DPRK blames South Korea for failure of test train runs

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) on Friday blamed South Korea for the failure of the first cross-border test train runs.

"The blame for the failure to have that trial operation entirely rests with your side," Kwon Ho Ung, head of the DPRK's delegation to the inter-Korean ministerial talks, told Ri Jong-sok, who leads a delegation from South Korea, in a telephone message, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The DPRK on Wednesday decided to cancel the test train runs scheduled for Thursday due to a failure of both sides' military authorities to guarantee the train's safe passage and unstable situation in South Korea.

The test operation would have been the first time for trains to run across the border since the Korean War broke out in June 1951.

The DPRK said South Korea should first settle problems surrounding the disputed sea border on the West Sea (the Yellow Sea) in order to prevent armed clashes before the test runs.

"Your side will not deny the fact that it is a vital matter directly linked with the destiny of the nation to take a military step for guaranteeing peace under the present situation that the U.S. moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK have reached the extremes and huge armed forces of both sides are standing in acute confrontation with each other," said Kwon.

Two bloody naval clashes have occurred since 1998 along the disputed sea border, resulting in many casualties.

During the talks on the trial operation between the DPRK and South Korea, some members of the "Grand National Party" in South Korea burned the national flag of the DPRK, a move the DPRK said was a serious provocation.

"This most serious provocation against our side compels us to interpret it as a clear confirmation in practice of your side's lack of will to get reconciled and cooperate with our side," Kwon said.

South Korea should "honestly apologize for such crime as defaming our national flag and sternly punish those responsible for it," said the official.

Source: Xinhua