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North Korea repeated Tuesday it will boycott six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear arms program until the U.S. lifts sanctions on North Korean firms. ¡°The sanctions the U.S. imposed on our nation are clearly a fundamental factor discontinuing the six-party talks,¡± the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the Rodong Shinmun daily as saying. ¡°It makes no sense for us to attend the talks and sit face to face with people who pressure us with the aim of isolating us, and to discuss abandoning the nuclear deterrent we decided to build up for the preservation of our country.¡±
The commentary follows a line of similar editorials in the party paper over the last few weeks, but there is concern that they do not take on a more conciliatory cast in the month when the other nations involved are hoping to resume talks. The daily said Pyongyang in principle agreed to abandon its nuclear program in September ¡°because the U.S. pledged to end its hostile policy toward us and move forward into peaceful coexistence.¡± However, Washington¡¯s ¡°sanctions and pressures¡± not only go against the spirit of the September accord ¡°but also make it impossible for us to carry out our pledges,¡± it said.
The editorial concluded resumption of the talks ¡°depends entirely on the actions of the U.S.¡± Washington has frozen the U.S. assets of North Korean firms and in recent weeks stepped up a campaign to persuade its allies that Pyongyang is involved in counterfeiting and other illicit activities.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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