Seoul, Nov 04: North Korea today urged the United States to lower its guns and normalise relations – the Communist state's key conditions to ending the year long standoff over its nuclear weapons development. "Our fundamental demand is that North Korea and the United States both lower their guns at the same time, establish normal relations and peacefully coexist," the north's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary.

Rodong was monitored by South Korea's Yonhap news agency. North Korea also urged the United States to accept its demand for ``simultaneous actions.''

The North has previously said ``simultaneous actions'' would require that the United States provide economic and humanitarian aid and open diplomatic ties. North Korea would then allow nuclear inspections, give up missiles exports and dismantle its nuclear weapons facilities.

Last month, the Communist state said it will consider Washington's offer of written security assurances in return for ending its nuclear weapons program. Bureau Report