ID :
90602
Thu, 11/19/2009 - 21:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/90602
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea criticizes U.S. military in South Korea during Obama trip
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea accused U.S. military forces in South
Korea Thursday of attempting to launch a nuclear war against it, a routine claim
that surfaced again as U.S. President Barack Obama visited Seoul.
North Korea otherwise quietly observed Obama's two-day trip here, during which he
announced that the U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, Stephen Bosworth,
will visit Pyongyang on Dec. 8 to engage the communist country.
After a summit with Obama, President Lee Myung-bak said they "completely agreed"
to terminate the North's nuclear program in a single comprehensive deal.
Obama urged North Korea to "break the pattern" of alternating between provocative
behavior and dialogue to receive more concessions.
Rodong Sinmun, the North's major newspaper published by the Workers' Party, said
North Korea has made "sincere" efforts to resolve tension on the peninsula, but
its peace efforts have been trampled by the presence of the U.S. military in
South Korea.
"The U.S. imperialist aggresasor forces' presence in South Korea and their daily
intensifying moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK (North Korea) are the
main factor of disturbing peace and security on the Korean Peninsula," the paper
said.
As examples of military threats against North Korea, the article cited the
allies' joint military drills, the U.S. decision to keep the 8th Army Command of
the U.S. forces in South Korea rather than move it to Hawaii and programs to
update weapons and equipment. The paper also renewed accusations that South
Korea's Navy initiated the inter-Korean naval skirmish in the Yellow Sea on Nov.
10.
"The above-said moves of the U.S. and South Korean militaries are dangerous
developments as they vitiate the atmosphere of dialogue," the paper asserted.
"No ever-more reckless moves ... to ignite a nuclear war at any cost quite
contrary to the trend of the times toward detente and peace can ever hold in
check the dynamic advance of the Koreans to achieve independent reunification,
peace and prosperity," the paper said.
About 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the
1950-1953 Korean War, serving as a safeguard against North Korea. Obama made a
morale-boosting trip to the Osan Air base on the outskirts of Seoul as his last
destination on his eight-day Asia tour.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea accused U.S. military forces in South
Korea Thursday of attempting to launch a nuclear war against it, a routine claim
that surfaced again as U.S. President Barack Obama visited Seoul.
North Korea otherwise quietly observed Obama's two-day trip here, during which he
announced that the U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, Stephen Bosworth,
will visit Pyongyang on Dec. 8 to engage the communist country.
After a summit with Obama, President Lee Myung-bak said they "completely agreed"
to terminate the North's nuclear program in a single comprehensive deal.
Obama urged North Korea to "break the pattern" of alternating between provocative
behavior and dialogue to receive more concessions.
Rodong Sinmun, the North's major newspaper published by the Workers' Party, said
North Korea has made "sincere" efforts to resolve tension on the peninsula, but
its peace efforts have been trampled by the presence of the U.S. military in
South Korea.
"The U.S. imperialist aggresasor forces' presence in South Korea and their daily
intensifying moves for a war of aggression against the DPRK (North Korea) are the
main factor of disturbing peace and security on the Korean Peninsula," the paper
said.
As examples of military threats against North Korea, the article cited the
allies' joint military drills, the U.S. decision to keep the 8th Army Command of
the U.S. forces in South Korea rather than move it to Hawaii and programs to
update weapons and equipment. The paper also renewed accusations that South
Korea's Navy initiated the inter-Korean naval skirmish in the Yellow Sea on Nov.
10.
"The above-said moves of the U.S. and South Korean militaries are dangerous
developments as they vitiate the atmosphere of dialogue," the paper asserted.
"No ever-more reckless moves ... to ignite a nuclear war at any cost quite
contrary to the trend of the times toward detente and peace can ever hold in
check the dynamic advance of the Koreans to achieve independent reunification,
peace and prosperity," the paper said.
About 28,500 American soldiers are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the
1950-1953 Korean War, serving as a safeguard against North Korea. Obama made a
morale-boosting trip to the Osan Air base on the outskirts of Seoul as his last
destination on his eight-day Asia tour.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
