The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday urged the United States to lift financial sanctions against it, which it said were the principal reason why "the six-party talks came to a deadlock."

"It is the real intention of the U.S. to tighten financial sanctions against the DPRK with a view to preventing the six-party talks from resuming and doing harm to it," said a commentary carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Before the second phase of the fourth round of six-party talks held in November last year, the U.S. had imposed sanctions on six DPRK companies and a Macau bank, which Washington said were involved in illicit activities, including counterfeiting and money laundering.

The DPRK has denied the allegations and ruled out participation in a new round of disarmament negotiations until the sanctions are lifted.

"If the U.S. truly wants to resume the six-party talks with a bold decision to improve the relations with the DPRK it had better just lift financial sanctions before talking about the resumption of the talks," said the KCNA.

"Should the U.S. persist in its delaying-tactics, counting on its financial sanctions, the DPRK will not fritter away time, either," the KCNA added.

Source: Xinhua