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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here Thursday pulling out from the six-party nuclear talks by the Democratic People's Republic of Korean (DPRK) would only deep its isolation. (Photo: Xinhua)

    LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said here Thursday pulling out from the six-party nuclear talks by the Democratic People's Republic of Korean (DPRK) would only deep its isolation.

    Rice was responding to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK that the country is suspending its participation in the six-party talks for an "indefinite period", accusing the United States of seeking to topple its political system.

    "If in fact this is the case, then the North Koreans are only deepening their isolation because everyone ... (has) been very clear that there needs to be no nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula," Rice said in an interview with RTL television during avisit to Luxembourg, which holds the EU presidency.

    Rice noted the United States had no intention of attacking the DPRK.

    "There is really no reason for this but we'll examine where we'll go next," Rice said.

    "The North Koreans should reassess this and try to end their own isolation," she said.

    The statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said " We have wanted the six-party talks but we are compelled to suspend our participation in the talks for an indefinite period."

    The DPRK said it would not resume its participation in the six-party talks until it has recognized that there is justification for it to attend the talks and there are ample conditions and atmosphere to expect positive results from the talks.

    There is no justification for the DPRK to participate in the six-party talks again given that the Bush administration termed the DPRK, a dialogue partner, an "outpost of tyranny", it said.

    Rice branded last month the DPRK, along with several other countries, as an "outpost tyranny" that needed to be liberated.

    "The DPRK's principled stand to solve the issue through dialogue and negotiations and its ultimate goal to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula remain unchanged," the statement added.

    Three rounds of six-party talks, participated by representatives from the DPRK, the United States, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan, have taken place in Beijing since August 2003.

    Although some practical progress has been made, especially during the third round talks held last June, which was praised by all the parties as "constructive", no breakthrough emerged on substantial issues. Enditem