DPRK agrees on resumption of six-party talks

BEIJING - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) ambassador to China said here on Wednesday that the DPRK agrees on the resumption of six-party talks, calling on the United States to fulfil its related obligations.

Chi Jae Ryong made the remarks at a press briefing at which he reiterated the DPRK's recent peace call.

On the issue of the stalled six-party talks, involving the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia, Chi said the DPRK has already "taken a seat on the boat of the talks," urging other concerned parties to come on board.

"The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is the continuous policy of our republic," he added.

However, Chi said the willingness does not mean that the DPRK should unilaterally abandon nuclear weapons, and that as long as the nuclear threat from outside continues, the DPRK has to strengthen its nuclear program.

"As long as the anti-DPRK policy of the United States continues, we can not expect any resolution of the nuclear issue," according to the ambassador.

He said the reason why the September 19 Joint Statement was not implemented is that the United States has evaded its promises and obligation.

In the historic agreement, which was reached in 2005 at the six-party talks, the DPRK pledged to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in exchange for energy aid and security guarantees. '   On January 16, the DPRK's National Defense Commission said in a three-point "important proposal" that inter-Korean relations could thaw if the two sides make concerted efforts to implement the proposal starting from January 30.

In the proposal, the DPRK called for verbal and military provocations between the two sides of the Korean Peninsula to stop, and urged practical measures to be taken to prevent a "nuclear disaster."