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North Korea snubs US demand for early inspection
Seoul, Aug 20: North Korea today rejected an early inspection of its nuclear facilities as `absolutely unacceptable,` toughening its stance ahead of six-nation nuclear crisis talks.
Seoul, Aug 20: North Korea today rejected an early inspection of its nuclear facilities as "absolutely unacceptable," toughening its stance ahead of six-nation
nuclear crisis talks.
The North's official Korean central news agency said Washington was insisting on forming a new inspection team by the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, who are attending six-way talks in Beijing next week.
"The US demand for an 'early inspection' of the DPRK nuclear facilities is absolutely unacceptable as it is a blatant interference in its internal affairs and an infringement upon its sovereignty," KCNA said.
"This is little short of demanding the DPRK surrender to it. Surrender means death. The US call for an 'early inspection' of a sovereign state would only spark a conflict," KCNA added.
The North's official mouthpiece reiterated its demand that the United States drop its hostile policy towards the communist regime first to solve the nuclear crisis.
Pyongyang has repeatedly demanded a non-aggression pact and diplomatic normalisation with the United States.
The North's toughened stance came just a week before the opening of August 27-29 talks aimed at resolving the 10-month nuclear stand-off over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive.
The nuclear crisis erupted when the United States accused Pyongyang of reneging on a 1994 bilateral nuclear accord by setting up a clandestine programme based on enriched uranium.
Bureau Report
The North's official Korean central news agency said Washington was insisting on forming a new inspection team by the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, who are attending six-way talks in Beijing next week.
"The US demand for an 'early inspection' of the DPRK nuclear facilities is absolutely unacceptable as it is a blatant interference in its internal affairs and an infringement upon its sovereignty," KCNA said.
"This is little short of demanding the DPRK surrender to it. Surrender means death. The US call for an 'early inspection' of a sovereign state would only spark a conflict," KCNA added.
The North's official mouthpiece reiterated its demand that the United States drop its hostile policy towards the communist regime first to solve the nuclear crisis.
Pyongyang has repeatedly demanded a non-aggression pact and diplomatic normalisation with the United States.
The North's toughened stance came just a week before the opening of August 27-29 talks aimed at resolving the 10-month nuclear stand-off over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons drive.
The nuclear crisis erupted when the United States accused Pyongyang of reneging on a 1994 bilateral nuclear accord by setting up a clandestine programme based on enriched uranium.
Bureau Report