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N Korea hits out at US sanctions N Korea hits out at US sanctions
(about 3 hours later)
North Korea has blamed US financial sanctions for deadlock in multilateral talks on its nuclear programme.North Korea has blamed US financial sanctions for deadlock in multilateral talks on its nuclear programme.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly, envoy Choe Su-Hon said that North Korea was willing to hold talks but the US stance had created an impasse. In a speech to the UN General Assembly, envoy Choe Su-Hon said that North Korea was willing to hold talks, but the US stance had created an impasse.
Last year, the two sides agreed a deal under which North Korea would receive economic aid in return for scrapping its nuclear ambitions.Last year, the two sides agreed a deal under which North Korea would receive economic aid in return for scrapping its nuclear ambitions.
But the deal fell apart over disagreements on how to implement it.But the deal fell apart over disagreements on how to implement it.
Shortly afterwards, the US imposed financial sanctions on Pyongyang, accusing it of involvement in counterfeiting and money-laundering.Shortly afterwards, the US imposed financial sanctions on Pyongyang, accusing it of involvement in counterfeiting and money-laundering.
RhetoricRhetoric
In his speech, Mr Choe, who is deputy foreign minister, said talks were not possible while the sanctions remained. In his speech Mr Choe, the North's deputy foreign minister, said talks were not possible while the sanctions remained.
"It is quite preposterous that the DPRK (North Korea), under the groundless US sanctions, takes part in the talks of discussing its own nuclear abandonment," he said."It is quite preposterous that the DPRK (North Korea), under the groundless US sanctions, takes part in the talks of discussing its own nuclear abandonment," he said.
"This is (a) matter of principle intolerable of even the slightest concession.""This is (a) matter of principle intolerable of even the slightest concession."
Mr Choe said North Korea was committed to the September 2005 deal and had much to gain from it, but he said that it was "crystal clear" that the US did not want the multilateral talks to succeed. But when asked to comment on the speech, US envoy Christopher Hill told the Associated Press: "I wouldn't pay too much attention to that."
Representatives from the six countries involved in the talks - North Korea, South Korea, the US, China, Russia and Japan - have not met since the deal collapsed. The US still hopes to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said recently that she was planning to travel to Asia within the next six weeks, to see if she could make "one last push" to convince North Korea to return to negotiations.
Representatives from the six countries involved in the talks - North Korea, South Korea, the US, China, Russia and Japan - have not met since late last year, after the collapse of an agreement to give the North economic benefits in exchange for an end to its nuclear ambitions.
Mr Choe said North Korea was still committed to the September 2005 deal, and had much to gain from it, but he said that it was "crystal clear" that the US did not want the multilateral talks to succeed.
In a speech full of strong rhetoric, the North Korean envoy went on to condemn Japan's bid for a Security Council seat. Japan also has sanctions in place against Pyongyang.In a speech full of strong rhetoric, the North Korean envoy went on to condemn Japan's bid for a Security Council seat. Japan also has sanctions in place against Pyongyang.
Mr Choe also attacked the Security Council, referring to events in Iraq and Lebanon, and accusing it of "irresponsibility, unfairness and double-standards in its activities".Mr Choe also attacked the Security Council, referring to events in Iraq and Lebanon, and accusing it of "irresponsibility, unfairness and double-standards in its activities".