Iran Press/Asia: Pyongyang never give up its nuclear weapons program unless the US removes its nuclear threat first, North Korean state media announced on Thursday.
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a statement that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula had to mean “completely eliminating the US nuclear threat to Korea,” as well as all neighboring areas, Iran Press reported.
“When we refer to the Korean Peninsula, the term encompasses the area of DPRK plus South Korean territory, where US nuclear weapons and other forms of aggression forces are deployed,” the statement said.
US Special Representative on North Korea Stephen Biegun
On Friday, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun said Washington will not ease its sanctions or those imposed by the UN against North Korea but it is still ready to try and build trust.
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After continued deadlock in nuclear negotiations between the Washington and Pyongyang over the process of the denuclearization process in the Korean Peninsula and the removal of US-led sanctions, it seems that recent position of two countries will complicate nuclear negotiations.
In Pyongyang released statement, clearly show that North Korea rejected US calls for it to unilaterally denuclearize, and added that Washington had to abandon the “delusion” of forcing the country into giving up its nuclear weapons “via pressure and oppression.”
“It is obvious that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a joint business that cannot be achieved unless both Korea and the United States strive together,” the KCNA statement said.
In this sense, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula should be defined as completely eliminating the US nuclear threat to Korea’ before it can eliminate our nuclear deterrent.
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The statement by the North Korean state media also suggested that Pyongyang would demand that Washington withdraw or significantly reduce the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea, which has been a major sticking point hindering a potential disarmament deal.
Meanwhile Stephen Biegun today try to emphasize on trust building.
"Within the context of the engagement that we have with the DPRK (North Korea), we are prepared to explore number of other things that could build trust," Stephen Biegun said in contradictory remarks on sanctions on north Korea.
"We do have a number of initiatives we'd like to look at as we begin the process of denuclearization in North Korea," US Special Representative on North Korea added.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed hope for a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jung-un.
The second summit has been scheduled for early next year, but it is unclear whether North Korea would agree to holding the summit after talks appear to have stalled, in part due to disagreements over the timing of sanctions relief.
The first meeting took place in Singapore in June, when dialog was opened up between the two countries on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula after months of exchanging military threats.
Washington seeks the complete and irreversible dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear program first, while Pyongyang is demanding a solid over Peninsula.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that as long as the pressure is on and the crippling sanctions are in place he is “in no hurry” to reach a denuclearization deal with North Korea.
In North Korea Thursday’s statement, Pyongyang accused Washington of twisting what had been agreed on in Singapore and driving post-summit talks into an impasse.
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On Sunday, North Korea Foreign Ministry issued a statement and warned that US increasing sanctions will cause “exchanges of fire” and block the path to nuclear disarmament forever.
The statement said that US policy of 'maximum pressure' would be its 'greatest miscalculation'.
Choe Ryong-hae
It came after Washington slapped sanctions on three North Korean officials last week, including Choe Ryong-hae, a top aide to Pyongyang leader Kim Jong-un.
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