The following is a release
put out by KCNA, the state-run North Korean news agency,
in Pyongyang on April 12:
"A spokesman for the
Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea gave the following answer to a question put by
KCNA on Saturday as regards the DPRK-US dialogue for a
peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean
peninsula: In order to seek a peaceful solution to the
nuclear issue the DPRK and the United States, the
parties responsible for it, should start direct talks.
"As the DPRK is not a signatory to the NPT
[Non-Proliferation Treaty] there is no ground whatsoever
to internationalize the nuclear issue and any attempt to
do so would make its solution quite impossible. The
outcome of the meeting of the UNSC [United Nations
Security Council] held on April 9 clearly indicated that
the nuclear issue is a matter to be settled between the
DPRK and the US.
"The DPRK's call for direct
talks is aimed to confirm whether the US has a political
willingness to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK
or not. It is possible to solve the issue if the US
sincerely approaches the dialogue. The US asserts a
'multilateral framework' to be participated in by
countries around the DPRK, but their Korea policy and
stand of desiring a peaceful settlement of the nuclear
issue are clear by and large.
"What matters is
the US. If the US is ready to make a bold switchover in
its Korea policy for a settlement of the nuclear issue,
the DPRK will not stick to any particular dialogue
format. The solution to the issue depends on what is the
real intention of the US."
