Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 16, 2003
DPRK would add to nuclear strength if talks delayed
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) threatened yesterday to add to its nuclear arsenal if talks with the United States (UN) and its allies are delayed.
It also said Washington was "wasting time" by rejecting Pyongyang's offer to freeze its nuclear arms programme.
China weighed in on the side of DPRK, urging the United States to be more flexible in the next round of six-party talks aimed at ending DPRK's nuclear crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.
DPRK's ruling party newspaper criticized Washington for rejecting its proposal last week for a "simultaneous package solution" under which Pyongyang would freeze its nuclear programme in exchange for energy aid.
"The US... delaying tactics would only result in compelling the DPRK to steadily increase its nuclear deterrent force," said the Rodong Sinmun newspaper.
Despite a flurry of shuttle diplomacy, expectations that DPRK would join the five parties in talks on the nuclear crisis this month have given way to plans to convene the meeting in January.