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North Korea's representative to the United Nations used a speech Monday to deliver a
direct message to the United States: abandon your hostile policies against Pyongyang, and
tensions on the Korean peninsula just might ease.
Arirang News' foreign affairs correspondent Hwang Sung-hee has the details.
Speaking at the United Nations' disarmament and security First Committee on Monday, North
Korean Ambassador to the UN Sin Son-ho called on the United States to ensure that the North
Korean regime will be left unharmed.
"If the United States is truly in favor of easing tensions and lasting peace on the Korean
peninsula, it should show by abandoning its hostile policy towards the DPRK and should
move towards a peaceful coexistence with us."
The North Korean official also stressed that the current Korean War armistice agreement
be shifted to a peace treaty.
"We advanced various peace initiatives, including the one proposed in January 2010 on the speedy
opening of talks on replacing the ceasefire agreement with a peace agreement."
Sin reiterated Pyongyang's basic stance that the issue of denuclearizing the North must
be resolved in a peaceful manner through dialogue and negotiations with no preconditions.
The latest remarks are being interpreted as part of North Korea's recent efforts to return
to the negotiating table. In a report submitted to the Foreign Affairs
and Unification Standing Committee on Tuesday, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said that
the North is seeking change, but added those attempts have so far been unsuccessful.
The ministry explained that despite Pyongyang's efforts to mend ties with China and its recent
informal meetings with former U.S. officials, Washington remains firm in its demand that
the North give up its nuclear program before opening talks.
While the North is suspected of actively developing its nuclear technology, the focus is now on
how the U.S. will respond to North Korea's latest request.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.