http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/12/content_12793191.htm
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States rejected Monday the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s proposal to discuss a
peace treaty before denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, with the White
House and State Department both calling on the DPRK to honor its
obligations in denuclearization.
White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters in a daily
briefing that the DPRK has to come back to the six-party talks and
take steps towards denuclearization for the peace treaty issue to
advance, "if they're willing to live up to those obligations, then we
will make progress in those talks."
He said this is not a step for the United States to take, but
rather a step for the DPRK.
Later in the day, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley also
said the issue in front of the DPRK is "saying yes, coming back to the
six-party process, and then we can begin to march down the list of
issues that we have, beginning with the nuclear issue ... then we are
perfectly willing to have other kinds of discussions."
He noted in the Joint Statement of September 2005 agreed upon by
the six-parties, namely the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China,
Russia and the United States, establishment of a peace regime and
normalization of relations among all parties concerned must be
preceded by denuclearization.
Pyongyang said earlier Monday that it would discuss reaching a
peace treaty with relevant state parties to replace the Armistice
Agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War, either in the framework
of the six-party talks, or in a "separate forum." It said the
conclusion of the peace treaty would help promote the denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula.
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