The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday renewed its demand that the United States lift financial sanctions against it before the six-party talks could resume in 2006.

"The U.S. should lift the sanctions, an obstacle to the six-party talks, and come out for the talks, if it is truly interested in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and hopes for the progress of the talks," a DPRK's Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman refuted assertions made by U.S. officials that the sanctions are a "separate issue from the six-party talks."

US officials also claimed that the DPRK's stand toward the issue "is a pretext for delaying the talks ...the issue is not a subject of negotiation."

The DPRK spokesman rebuffed the rhetoric, reiterating that "the financial sanctions against the DPRK are an issue directly related to the six-party talks."

The spokesman said the U.S. sanctions had violated the principle of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence laid down in the joint statement issued on Sept. 19, 2005.

He also accused Washington of constant hostility against the DPRK.

"The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula surfaced because of the hostile policy pursued by the U.S. toward the DPRK, negating its ideology and system while forcing America's ideology and system upon it," the spokesman said.

"Therefore, the key to solving the issue is for the U.S. to renounce its hostile policy toward the DPRK and opt for co-existence with the latter," he stressed.

"Under the present situation it is illogical to discuss with the U.S. on the issue of dismantling the nuclear deterrent built up by the DPRK for self-defence," the spokesman said.

The United States froze eight DPRK enterprises' assets on its soil late last year, accusing them of "proliferating weapons of mass destruction" and "illegal dealing."

The DPRK has since repeatedly urged the United States to lift its sanctions so as to clear the way for the resumption of the talks.

The six parties -- China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan -- agreed in a chairman's document on Nov. 11 to hold the second-phase meeting of the fifth round at the earliest possible date.

Source: Xinhua