DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on U.S. Persistent Hostile Policy

Pyongyang, December 17 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry Wednesday released the following statement as regards the fact that the DPRK government's positive and sincere efforts for solid and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula are facing blatant challenge of the U.S.: The DPRK proposed the U.S. side to conclude a peace treaty as the most reasonable way for putting an end to the evil cycle of tension and confrontation that have lasted for more than six decades. Nevertheless, the U.S. is responding to the fair and aboveboard proposal by elaborating in action on its hostile policy already branded as "failed strategy" far from taking a sincere approach towards the proposal. Its typical example is its recent evermore reckless moves to ratchet up "sanctions" against the DPRK. It is putting the armed forces, munitions and trade organs of the DPRK and their officials and even diplomats of the DPRK on the list of "sanctions." Lurking behind this action is a sinister political intention to tarnish the international image of the DPRK and make other countries feel uneasy about dealing with it and thus suffocate its overall economy including munitions industry as well as civilian field. The U.S. row about "sanctions" would only heighten the spirit of self-reliance and increase the strenuous efforts among the workers in the field of the munitions industry of the DPRK and boost the proportion of locally available raw and other materials in its munitions industry. If the U.S. persistently pursues its anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK this way, this would only entail unimaginable consequences quite contrary to what the U.S. desires. -0-