President Bush informed the Secretary of State that he will provide up to $3.72 million to assist the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) -- but for administrative expenses only.

KEDO is a multinational consortium; the founding members are the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan. It was established in 1995, shortly after negotiations between the United States and North Korea concluded with the adoption of the Agreed Framework. The agreement called for North Korea to freeze and eventually eliminate its nuclear facilities and to allow special inspections to be conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

North Korea, however, effectively withdrew from the agreement in 2002 when it announced plans to restart its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.

SUBJECT: U.S. Contribution to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization: Determination Regarding Funds Under the Heading "Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs" in Title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations, 2003, Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 (Public Law 108-7)(the "Act")

Consistent with the authority vested in me by section 562 of Division E of the Act, I hereby determine that it is vital to the national security interests of the United States to waive the restriction in that section and provide up to $3.72 million in funds made available under the heading "Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs" in title II of Division E of the Act, for assistance to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) for administrative expenses only.

You are hereby authorized and directed to report this determination and the accompanying Memorandum of Justification, prepared by my Administration, to the Congress and to arrange for publication of this determination in the Federal Register.

GEORGE W. BUSH