N. Korea calls on U.S. to offer security guarantee to discuss denuclearization

  • 5 years ago
北최룡해 "美, 체제안전 위협 적대시정책 철회해야 비핵화 논의 가능"

Following its statements last week reminding the U.S. of the end-of-year deadline,... a close aide to Kim Jong-un has demanded the U.S. to give a security guarantee to get the stalled talks moving.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
North Korea has once again called on the U.S. to offer a security guarantee.
Choe Ryong-hae, the head of the North's parliament's executive council, the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium, attended the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Azerbaijan last week.
Saying that the Korean Peninsula could return to a moment of crisis at any time, Choe blamed the U.S. for keeping its hostile policies towards the North.
He added, the North can only discuss denuclearization with the U.S. when Washington takes some practical steps to get rid of policies that threaten the North's security.
Choe also emphasized that the UN is legitimizing U.S. authoritarianism and is practicing injustice by sanctioning "victims."
Regarding inter-Korean relations, he said the North cannot improve its ties with Seoul because South Korea is (quote)"depending on foreign forces."
The North is sending a series of messages calling for U.S. action every two or three days.
The message from Choe comes only a couple of days after North Korea's Kim Yong-chol, Pyeongyang's former nuclear envoy, urged swift action from the U.S.
Kim Kye-gwan, the adviser to Pyeongyang's foreign ministry, has also demanded Washington take action by the end of this year.
Experts say this trend reflects the North's discontent over how the U.S. has not changed its stance since the Hanoi summit... and shows the North's impatience as the deadline it set -- the year's-end -- draws near.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.

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