US-SKorea agreement on mutual defence should be dropped-Rodong

PYONGYANG (Itar-Tass) - The present agreement between the
US and South Korea on mutual defence "violates sovereignty of the Korean
nation and blocks the process of national unification", says an article in
the leading North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun, published on Saturday.
The newspaper demanded ditching this document "cooked by American
imperialists on October 1, 1953".
The newspaper stresses that this agreement "justifies the permanent US
military presence in South Korea as well as all actions, aimed at hatching
aggression against the DPRK".
In compliance with the document, the US has the right to preserve in
South Korea units of land, naval and air force troops for an indefinite
period of time, which meets the interests of Washington, "seeking to build
up its positions in the Korean Peninsula and all over North East Asia".
The newspaper notes that guided by this document, the US "inveigled
South Korea into the confrontation with the DPRK and blocked the process
of peaceful national unification".
"The need for such an agreement, countering modern world political
trends, is long outdated," Rodong Sinmun sums up.
Washington constantly confirms its obligation to defend South Korea
with all available means. A total of 28,500 US servicemen are stationed in
the republic, and the numerical strength of South Korean troops exceed
650,000.