The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) on Saturday denied a US allegation that the DPRK only wants to hold direct bilateral talks with the United States for solving the nuclear issue of the DPRK, and reiterated that thekey to solving the deadlocked issue is an end of Washington's hostile policy toward the DPRK.

A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected some recent reports in US media that blamed the deadlock of the six-party talks on Pyongyang's demand of talks with the United Sates only.

"This is nothing but sophism making profound confusing of the right and wrong," the spokesman said.

"As for bilateral talks, the DPRK has neither expected nor waited for them as the US has been opposed to it. Accordingly, theDPRK does not feel any need to ask the US for bilateral talks. Moreover, it does not stand to reason for the DPRK to try to hold any bilateral talks with the party which is hatching plots 'to bring down the DPRK's system'", he said.

He reiterated that "for the US to make its policy switchover isthe key to finding a solution to the issue."

If the United States drops its hostile policy aimed at "bringing down the system" in the DPRK and opts for co-existing with the latter in practice, "it will be quite possible to settle the issue," he said.

The spokesman noted that the DPRK has clarified on various occasions its willingness to settle the nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations and that "it does not stick to the form of the talks."

"The DPRK will go ahead to attain its desired goal strictly according to its independent judgment and in the state interests,"he added.

The nuclear issue of the DPRK erupted in October 2002 when US officials said DPRK was pursuing a covert uranium-enrichment program.

The DPRK, however, has since denied running such a program, andhas repeatedly demanded food and energy aid and diplomatic concessions in return for refreezing an older, plutonium-based nuclear program, mothballed in 1994.

But the US decision in November 2002 to halt offering heavy oilto the DPRK on the excuse that the DPRK was continuing its nuclearprogram escalated the situation.

The DPRK then decided to resume the operation and construction of its nuclear facilities to generate electricity. It said the steps were taken just to make up the huge power hole due to the heavy oil suspension, adding that it was the US government who violated the 1994 Agreed Framework signed by the US and the DPRK.

The accord in 1994 stipulates that the DPRK freeze its nuclear program in return for the provision of 500,000 tons of heavy oil ayear by US and for the help to build two sets of light waters reactors in the DPRK before 2003.

In August 2003, mediated by China, the United States, China, Japan and South Korea, along with Russia and the DPRK held the first round six-party talks in Beijing, aimed at realizing the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Up to June this year, three rounds of the six-party talks have been held, all in Beijing. The fourth round scheduled for September failed to take place.

Pyongyang has said that the US turning down the proposal of "reward for freeze" advanced by the DPRK and applying "double standards" make the fourth round of the six-party talks abortive.

Source: Xinhua