PYONGYANG, Aug. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Democratic People's Republicof Korea Saturday denounced Washington's recent appointment of "envoy for the human rights issue of North Korea", saying the movewould obstruct the six-party talks aimed at solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

    In a signed commentary, Rodong Sinmun, a leading DPRK newspaper, called the appointment "a very disturbing act" for efforts to solve the nuclear issue and "an act of throwing a hurdle in the way of the six-party talks."

    Last week, US President Bush appointed his former presidential aide Jay Lefkowitz as the envoy to monitor human records in the DPRK.

    "The appointment proves that what the US had said before its dialogue partner does not agree with what it has done later," the commentary said.

    "The US seems not interested in the dialogue and the settlementof the nuclear issue, but more keen on standing in confrontation with the DPRK and bringing about a 'regime change' in the DPRK," it added.

    "If the US continues in this way, it will force the DPRK to change its mind," warned the commentary, urging Washington to calloff the post of the envoy and abandon its ambition to overthrow the DPRK government immediately. Enditem