North Korea renews commitment to nuclear talks

North Korea today renewed its commitment to stalled nuclear disarmament talks, while at the same time vowing to strengthen its stockpile of atomic weapons to counter what it called extreme US hostility.

North Korea “is sticking to its stand to seek ways of overcoming difficulties lying in the way of the six-party talks and of achieving progress in the talks", the North’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

However, North Korea repeated its accusation today that the US is planning to attack the communist regime, citing as evidence more than 190 spy flights it claims the US sent over the North in January and a US decision to deploy a nuclear-powered carrier in Japan.

“Now that the moves of the forces hostile to (North Korea) have reached their extreme phase, the (North) is left with no other option but to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defence,” an unidentified spokesman for the North’s Korean Jurists Committee said in a statement carried by KCNA.

Washington has repeatedly said it has no intention to invade the North.

Last week, South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said there were indications that the nuclear disarmament talks could resume in February.

But South Korea’s former chief nuclear negotiator Song Min-soon – appointed last week as head of the newly created Office of Unification, Foreign and Security Affairs – told reporters at the presidential Blue House today it was too early to definitely say the talks could be held in February, according to spokesman Kim Man-soo.

The latest Rodong Sinmun commentary also warned that progress at the talks and resolving issues between North Korea and the US are not possible unless Washington immediately stops its “criminal moves.”

“The US’ reckless schemes against our country and its manoeuvre to start a war put the Korean Peninsula into a tense situation,” the newspaper said.

It did not elaborate, but apparently referred to sanctions Washington has imposed over the communist country’s alleged counterfeiting and other illicit activities.

In September, the US slapped restrictions on a bank in the Chinese territory of Macau, saying it had helped North Korea distribute counterfeit US currency and engage in other illicit activities. A month later, Washington imposed sanctions on eight North Korean companies it said were fronts for proliferating weapons of mass destruction.

North Korea has repeatedly denied the US charges and said it would stay away from the nuclear talks until Washington ends the sanctions. The US has refused, saying its financial actions are unrelated to the nuclear issue.

The nuclear talks – which involve the two Koreas, the US, Japan, China and Russia – were last held in November.

Participants produced a breakthrough agreement in September, when the North pledged to give up its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security assurances. But follow-up negotiations have stalled over the North’s anger at the US sanctions.