Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, January 12, 2003
DPRK Defends Withdrawal from NPT
The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) on Sunday defended its withdrawal from the NuclearNon-proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying that the DPRK government's decision to quit the pact "is the manifestation of the do-or-die spirit of the Korean army and people and their high consciousness of national independence."
The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) on Sunday defended its withdrawal from the NuclearNon-proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying that the DPRK government's decision to quit the pact "is the manifestation of the do-or-die spirit of the Korean army and people and their high consciousness of national independence."
"Since it is evidenced that the United States is desperately trying to stifle the DPRK and the International Atomic Energy Agency is used as a tool of the US hostile policy toward the DPRK,the DPRK was compelled not to remain tied to the NPT any longer," the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in an editorial.
"The DPRK will never be regretful for its withdrawal from the treaty and (will) advance more bravely and confidently along the way chosen by itself, unbound by anything," the article said.
The newspaper warned that if the United States and "its followers" challenge the DPRK over its withdrawal from the NPT with further pressure and sanctions, the DPRK will counter them with stronger self-defensive measures.
Pyongyang declared on Friday its withdrawal from the NPT which it said would come into effect on Saturday. The DPRK, however, hasmade it clear that it has no intention of producing nuclear weapons.
The DPRK joined the NPT in Dec. 1985. It withdrew from the treaty in March 1993 but returned to the pact in Oct. 1994 under the Agreed Framework reached between the United States and the DPRK in Geneva.