DPRK Clarifies Stand on Six-party Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 13, 2003

DPRK Clarifies Stand on Six-party Talks

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) clarified on Wednesday its stand on the coming six-party talks on settlement of the nuclear issue.

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) clarified on Wednesday its stand on the coming six-party talks on settlement of the nuclear issue.

The issues specified by the DPRK include the switchover of Washington's hostile policy towards the DPRK, the conclusion of a non-aggression treaty with the United States and its refusal of "earlier inspection" of its nuclear program before the abolition of the United States' hostile policy toward Pyongyang.

The DPRK wants to conclude with the United States a non-aggression treaty, which would "strictly and legally" guarantee that neither of the two sides attacks the other, said a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry in a statement.

"Steps for the solution of the nuclear issue must be taken strictly on the principle of simultaneous action by both sides," the spokesman added.

The US switchover of its hostile policy towards the DPRK comes as "a precondition for the solution to the nuclear issue", the spokesman stressed .

"It will be considered that the United States has practically given up its hostile policy toward the DPRK when a non-aggression treaty with legal binding is concluded, diplomatic relations are established between the DPRK and the United States, and it is made clear that the United States does not obstruct economic cooperation between the DPRK and other countries," said the spokesman.

The spokesman warned: "As long as the United States insists on its hostile policy towards the DPRK, the latter will not abandon its nuclear deterrent force."

The spokesman also indicated that an "earlier inspection" was "impossible and unthinkable" before the United States abandoned its hostile policy towards the DPRK.

"The call for an 'earlier inspection' of the nuclear facilities of the DPRK is an outrageous interference in the DPRK's internal affairs, and infringement upon its sovereignty", he said.

The matter of verification through inspection could be discussed only after it was confirmed that the United States had abandoned its hostile policy and renounced nuclear threats against the DPRK, he added.

The DPRK announced earlier this month that the six-party talks would be held soon in Beijing. The participants would include the DPRK, the United States, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan.

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