North Korea slams US for damaging inter-Korean ties
SEOUL, (MILLAT ONLINE)::North Korea condemned the United States on Monday for damaging a thaw in inter-Korean ties, as Washington vows to employ maximum sanctions and pressure until the North gives up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The Rodong Sinmun, the North’s main newspaper, also said that Washington is set to send strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula, despite an announcement by the South and the US to delay joint military drills until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The North’s criticism came as South and North Korea held their first formal talks in more than two years last week, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un extended an olive branch to Seoul, Yonhap reported.
“The US is repeating its pledge not to ease maximum sanctions and pressure until the North abandons nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It is throwing cold water on an atmosphere of reconciliation,” the newspaper said in a commentary.
During last week’s high-level talks, North Korea agreed to send a delegation of athletes to the Feb. 9-25 Winter Olympics in the South and to hold military talks with the South on easing border tensions.
The North criticized President Moon Jae-in on Sunday, as Moon told a press conference last week that US President Donald Trump has to be credited for helping open up inter-Korean talks.
In a thinly veiled threat, North Korea also mentioned that it can roll back its decision to join the Olympics, saying, “They should know that the train and bus carrying our delegation to the Olympics are still in Pyongyang.”