N. Korea urges U.S. to change policy

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will not come back to the negotiation table
unless the United States and South Korea give up their "hostile policy" toward
the communist nation, North Korean state media said Sunday.
"No matter what nonsense the Lee group may say under the clutches of the U.S.,
the DPRK remains unchanged in its determination and declaration made to protect
the dignity and sovereignty of the nation," North Korea's Cabinet newspaper, the
Minju Joson, said in a commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency. DPRK
stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
It also said the North will never attend the six-party talks aiming to end
Pyongyang's nuclear program, and will strengthen its nuclear power no matter what
other nations have agreed in the six-party talks that also include the U.S.,
China and South Korea.
Since its rocket launch last month, the North has pledged to carry out its second
nuclear test despite U.N. sanctions. It has also threatened to shut down an
industrial complex run jointly with the South, a symbol of inter-Korean
reconciliation achieved by former liberal South Korean governments.
The North has suspended almost all governmental-level talks with the conservative
Lee Myung-bak government and denounced its hard-line stance.
Washington has emphasized the importance of the six-party talks, calling on the
isolated country to come back to the negotiating table, adding that the North
will have to pay a "due price" if it conducts a nuclear test.
"The present U.S. administration is following the same hostile policy toward the
DPRK as enforced by the former administration, while touting 'a change' and
'diplomacy for multilateral cooperation,'" the paper said, adding that Seoul is
"echoing the U.S. unreasonable sophism."
The newspaper demanded the U.S. first change its policy if it really wants to
have talks with the North.
brk@yna.co.kr
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