N. Korea says U.S. nuclear umbrella for South justifies own nukes

By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. nuclear protection for South Korea justifies
North Korea running its own nuclear program, Pyongyang claimed Thursday, warning
"fiery showers of nuclear retaliation" in case of any aggression against it.
Reacting to a South Korea-U.S. summit on June 16 in Washington, the Rodong
Sinmun, the North's main newspaper published by the Workers' Party, denounced the
leaders' joint statement as "a disgusting kiss between the master and his
servant" and dismissed their talk of sanctions as "balderdash."
The joint statement reaffirmed the U.S. commitment in writing that it will
provide an "extended deterrence" for South Korea against the threat of a nuclear
attack by the North. It was the first such reassurance that came after the
North's second nuclear test on May 25.
"The stipulation of 'extended deterrence' only justifies our cause to possess
nuclear deterrence and in case anything happens, will only incur a ruthless
situation in which the fiery showers of our nuclear protection will fall upon
South Korea," the paper said in a statement carried by the official Korean
Central News Agency.
The statement also rebuked South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's departure date
for Washington, June 15, which marked the 9th anniversary of the first
inter-Korean summit between then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
It rebutted Lee's remarks at the summit that North Korea would no longer be
rewarded for its belligerent behavior.
"Everybody knows well that such balderdash can never cut ice with the DPRK. It is
a mockery and insult to the DPRK to raise a hue and cry over the small 'reward.'
The DPRK neither wishes to receive such despicable 'reward' nor requires it," it
said.
DPRK stands for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
"The DPRK's nuclear deterrent has nothing to do with somebody's 'recognition,'
and its only purpose is to prevent any aggressor from deliberately provoking it,"
the paper said.
Concerning Lee's proposal to hold denuclearization talks minus North Korea, the
paper said "one must know that the six-party talks are like crying over spilt
milk and their pressure for 'dismantlement' of nukes went bust long ago."
North Korea pulled out of the six-party talks involving the two Koreas, the U.S.,
China, Japan and Russia aimed at ending its nuclear program soon after the U.N.
Security Council condemned its long-range rocket launch in early April.
"The U.S. and its puppet are sadly mistaken if they calculate their foolish
trumpeting would help pressurize the DPRK. If the American master and his servant
Lee, both political greenhorns, would like to say something about the DPRK, it is
better for them to study more about it," the paper said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)