North Korea alarmed by US attitudes, committed to summit agreement, says Minister
North Korea is firm in its determination to implement the agreement it reached with the United States in June, but is increasingly concerned by US attitudes, its foreign minister said on Saturday.
The United States and North Korea pledged to end the North’s nuclear programme and establish peace on the Korean peninsula in the landmark June agreement reached by their leaders in Singapore.
“The DPRK stands firm in its determination and commitment for implementing the DPRK-US Joint Statement in a responsible and good-faith manner,” said Ri Yong Ho, referring to his country by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “What is alarming however is the insistent moves manifested within the US to go back to the old, far from its leader’s intention.”
Mr Ri was in Singapore attending the ASEAN Regional Forum Retreat Session, where US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also present.
“We have initiated goodwill measures of, inter alia, a moratorium on nuclear tests and rocket launch tests and dismantling of nuclear test ground,” Mr Ri said in a statement delivered to the ASEAN forum.
“However, the United States, instead of responding to these measures, is raising its voice louder for maintaining the sanctions against the DPRK and showing the attitude to retreat even from declaring the end of the war, a very basic and primary step for providing peace on the Korean peninsula.”