US must remove nukes - N Korea
2006-12-06 11:50
Moscow - North Korea may offer to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme if the United States removes its nuclear weapons from South Korea and other countries in the region, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Wednesday, the Interfax news agency reported.
"In exchange for its nuclear disarmament, it (North Korea) will demand the withdrawal of the US nuclear weapons from South Korea and other countries of the region," Interfax quoted the unnamed official as saying.
The official also accused the United States of stalling the resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear arms programme, saying its conditions were unacceptable for Pyongyang.
"As a result, the resumption of negotiations in December 2006 is impossible and if the position of the US is unchanged - in the future as well," the diplomat was quoted as saying.
The official also said North Korea was ready to get back to the negotiating table if the United States observed conditions agreed upon on October 31.
In late October, North Korea announced its decision to return to the six-nation nuclear talks after the United States offered to discuss financial penalties already in place.
- AP