PYONGYANG, April. 8 (Xinhua) -- Kim Il-chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK), on Saturday denounced the U.S. hostile policy of preemptive attack, warning that the DPRK can also launch preemptive attacks.

    Kim Il-chol made the denunciation at a national meeting held here to mark the 13th anniversary of DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il's election as the chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission,according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

    "The situation is growing tenser and more acute on the Korean Peninsula than ever before due to the more undisguised U.S.hostile policy toward the DPRK and its reckless military provocations," he said.

    "It is the traditional combat method of the DPRK to directly counter the pressure and threat of aggression from the enemies,without yielding to them," Kim said.

    The remarks were made after the U.S. and South Korea had held two large-scale joint military exercises from March 25 to March 31 in South Korea.

    "The U.S. is now talking about the six-party talks but in fact,it is zealously inciting hostility toward the DPRK while fabricating all sorts of sheer fictions, utterly indifferent to the talks," Kim said.

    Last October, one month before the scheduled second phase of the fourth round six-party talks in November, the U.S. imposed financial restrictions on DPRK companies which is said were allegedly involved in illicit activities.

    The DPRK strongly denied the allegation and refused to return to the six-party talks unless the U.S. lifted financial sanctions.  

    Next week, envoys from China, the DPRK, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States, will gather in Tokyo, Japan, in an effort to put the six-party talks back on track.

    On Friday, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan said in Tokyo that the DPRK has decided to make bilateral and multilateral contacts actively so that progress could be made in the six-party talks.  Enditem