All news

US responsible for disrupting six-party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program — ambassador

"Washington tells us that they want to sit down at the negotiations table, while in reality they want to try to change the regime with the help of nuclear threat," DPRK’s Ambassador to China says
An art work inspired by the six nations talks dealing with North Korea's nuclear issues in Beijing, China AP Photo/Ng Han Guan
An art work inspired by the six nations talks dealing with North Korea's nuclear issues in Beijing, China
© AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

BEIJING, July 28. /TASS/. US accusations that North Korea tries to sabotage six-talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear program represent Washington’s attempt to confuse the general public, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ambassador to China Ji Zae Ryong said on Tuesday.

"DPRK makes great efforts to resume dialogue and normalize the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We even suggested that US and South Korea may hold their military maneuvers if they mean so much to them. US is trying to confuse the general public when saying that they are making all efforts to resume dialogue and blaming DPRK for failure of talks. Washington tells us that they want to sit down at the negotiations table, while in reality they want to try to change the regime with the help of nuclear threat," the ambassador stressed.

The Pentagon is practicing its strategic plans of military invasion of DPRK by holding military drills with South Korea, Ji Zae Ryong said. "The plan of strategic deterrence was recently announced that envisages delivering a preventive nuclear strike against North Korea to destroy nuclear infrastructure and command posts if Pyongyang demonstrates any signs of preparing for using nuclear weapons. Apart from that, Washington and Seoul plan to hold large-scale military rills Ulji Freedom Guardian in August this year," the diplomat reminded.

Pyongyang will not give up nuclear weapons unilaterally, Ji Zae Ryong continued. "We are absolutely not interested in dialogue [six-party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program] on precondition that North Korea ‘freezes’ or gives up completely its nuclear weapons. Nuclear deterrence forces are not a bargaining chip at the negotiations table," the ambassador noted.

"North Korea is a country that owns nuclear weapons. The fact of owning nuclear weapons is fixed in North Korea’s Constitution. Apart from that, works on miniaturizing and diversifying nuclear weapons have long been underway in our country. It is North Korea’s consistent position to boost nuclear deterrent forces with the aim of countering the ever growing threat of nuclear war with US," Ji Zae Ryong said.

The diplomat stressed that the mechanism used to reach agreements on Iran’s nuclear program will not work with North Korea, since Pyongyang, unlike Tehran, "already has nuclear weapons." "The comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program has resulted from the inefficiency of long-term sanctions against this country," he stressed. "However, the situation with DPRK is completely different. Our country is a nuclear power which already possesses this kind of weapons, and it has its interests as a nuclear power," he added.

Format of deal on Iran's nuclear program cannot be used with North Korea — ambassador

The format used in agreement on Iran’s nuclear program cannot be used with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea’s Ambassador to China Ji Zae Ryong said on Tuesday.

"The comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program has resulted from the inefficiency of long-term sanctions against this country," he stressed. "However, the situation with DPRK is completely different. Our country is a nuclear power which already possesses this kind of weapons, and it has its interests as a nuclear power," he added.

"We are not interested in talks on halting our nuclear program or giving up our nuclear weapons," the ambassador concluded.

UN Security Council endorses Iran nuclear deal

On July 20, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution in support of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. According to the document, all international sanctions will be lifted from Iran in 10 years if Tehran fulfills all conditions agreed with P5+1 group of international mediators (five permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany) in Vienna.

The resolution also envisages easing sanctions against Iran after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) submits a report confirming Tehran’s compliance with the terms of the deal. The UN Security Council also reinforced the mechanism of returning all restrictions in case Iran violates the terms of the agreement.