Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 21, 2003
DPRK Condemns US-South Korea Joint Statement
The US-South Korea joint statement released last week has a negative effect on the inter-Korean relations as well as the settlement of the nuclear issue, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will see any sanctions against it as a declaration of war, said Rodong Sinmum on Wednesday.
The US-South Korea joint statement released last week has a negative effect on the inter-Korean relations as well as the settlement of the nuclear issue, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will see any sanctions against it as a declaration of war, said Rodong Sinmum on Wednesday.
The official newspaper said in a commentary that the DPRK noticed the United States and South Korea affirmed the possibility of taking further steps, which is a very dangerous move to heighten the risk of bringing a nuclear war to the peninsula.
If the "further steps" bring unpredictable results to the Korean Peninsula, the United States and South Korea should take full responsibility for it, the commentary stressed.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and US President George W. Bush signed a joint statement in Washington last Wednesday after their summit talks.
The statement said both countries would seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear standoff with the DPRK, but also mentioned that they would consider "further steps" to maintain peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.