North Korea threatened Friday to block progress in the six-party talks over its nuclear programs, claiming efforts by U.S. hardliners to disrupt dialogue with Pyongyang could aggravate the current standoff.
The North also said it will have no choice but to take a certain measure "provided the U.S. warmongers keep taking a tough stance" against the communist state.
The six-party talks hit a snag as Pyongyang claimed it has fulfilled its pledge under an accord at the talks to disable its key nuclear facilities and give a full account of its nuclear facilities by the end of last year. Washington, however, insisted Pyongyang has yet to submit a complete declaration.
The delay prompted U.S. hardliners to demand their government end all negotiations on Pyongyang's nuclear arms plans since the North is unlikely to give up the programs by the end of Bush administration's term. Some say Washington should raise the issue of North Korea's human rights record at the six-party talks.
"If U.S. hardliners drive the political situation on the Korean Peninsula and DPRK-U.S. relationship to the worst condition opposing to settlement through dialogue and negotiations till the last moment, achievements so far made can become nothing," said the Rodong Shinmun, organ of the Workers' Party. "The United States will have to assume the full responsibility in that case," the newspaper said.
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the country's official name.
"U.S. hardline conservatives' pursuance of anti-DPRK policy only serves as a catalyst to increase our military and people's anti-U.S. sentiment by one hundred fold," it said in the commentary covered by the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency.
The newspaper said Pyongyang's position has consistently been to resolve the nuclear dispute through dialogue and negotiations.
"This position of us never is an expression of our weakness but intended to ease tension and ensure peace on the peninsula," it added.
(Yonhap)