North Korea offers olive branch
Source: Agencies |
January 12, 2010, Tuesday
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NORTH Korea proposed yesterday that a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War be signed this year, saying a return to negotiations on its nuclear program depends on better relations with the United States and the lifting of sanctions.
The US and North Korea have never had diplomatic relations because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, thus leaving the Korea Peninsula technically at war.
North Korea, the US-led United Nations Command and China signed a cease-fire, but South Korea never did.
The US has resisted signing a treaty with North Korea while it possesses nuclear weapons.
The US has said, however, that the subject can be discussed within the framework of six-nation negotiations aimed at ridding the Korea Peninsula of atomic weapons. Those talks have not been held for more than a year.
North Korea indicated yesterday it won't rejoin the nuclear forum until talks begin on a peace treaty.
North Korea pulled out of the nuclear talks last year to protest international sanctions imposed for its launch of a long-range missile.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the absence of a peace treaty is a "root cause of the hostile relations" with the US.
The ministry called for a peace treaty to be signed this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.
The US and North Korea have never had diplomatic relations because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, thus leaving the Korea Peninsula technically at war.
North Korea, the US-led United Nations Command and China signed a cease-fire, but South Korea never did.
The US has resisted signing a treaty with North Korea while it possesses nuclear weapons.
The US has said, however, that the subject can be discussed within the framework of six-nation negotiations aimed at ridding the Korea Peninsula of atomic weapons. Those talks have not been held for more than a year.
North Korea indicated yesterday it won't rejoin the nuclear forum until talks begin on a peace treaty.
North Korea pulled out of the nuclear talks last year to protest international sanctions imposed for its launch of a long-range missile.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the absence of a peace treaty is a "root cause of the hostile relations" with the US.
The ministry called for a peace treaty to be signed this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.
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