PYONGYANG, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Wednesday that it has decided to return to the six-party talks, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
"The DPRK decided to return to the six-party talks on the premise that the issue of lifting financial sanctions will be discussed and settled between the DPRK and the U.S. within the framework of the six-party talks," said a spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry
DPRK had refused to return to six-party talks since last October due to the U.S.-imposed financial sanctions against it, and claimed that it would not return to talks unless the U.S. lifts financial sanctions imposed on a Macao-based bank and DPRK companies, for alleged counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
The KCNA didn't release the date when the next round of talks will be held.
The spokesman also said that the nuclear test conducted last month is "a self-defensive counter-measure against the U.S. daily increasing nuclear threat and financial sanctions against it."
China announced on Tuesday that the DPRK had agreed to resume the talks after a meeting in Beijing of top officials from the DPRK and the U. S.
Related:
China, DPRK, U.S. agree to resume six-party talks soon
BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue are to resume soon, according to a source from the Chinese Foreign Ministry here Tuesday.
At the invitation of China, the heads of delegations to the talks from China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States had an informal meeting in Beijing Tuesday, said the source.
"The three parties agreed that the six-party talks be held soon at a time convenient to the six parties," the source said. Full story
Bush hails DPRK's planned return to six-party talks
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday he would welcome the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) back to the six-party talks over its nuclear program.
"I am pleased and I want to thank the Chinese," Bush told reporters at the White House after meeting with Andrew Natsios, his special envoy on Sudan. Full story>>>
Russia hails agreement on resumption of six-party talks
MOSCOW, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia termed "extremely positive" the agreed resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula in the near future, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev said on Tuesday.
"We are sincere in our hope that the talks will be resumed in the near future," Alexeyev, the chief of relations with Asian countries at the Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. Full story>>>
UN chief hails resumption of six-party talks
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan hailed on Tuesday the announcement of the resumption of six-party talks on the nuclear program on the Korean Peninsula.
In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan welcomed the announcement that China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States have agreed to a resumption of the talks.
"He hopes the talks can be reconvened soon, and that they will yield positive results leading to lower tensions in the region," the statement said.
