North Korea blames South for tensions in rare news conference
- 10 years ago
In a rare news conference in Beijing, North Korea called for a stop to the annual U.S.-South Korea military drills in February.
Pyongyang's Ambassador to China said North Korea wanted to reduce tensions to allow reconciliation between the North and the South.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA JI JAE RYONG SAYING:
"This time, we once again suggest that South Korea stop immediately without questions, all hostile military actions with foreign powers which opposes people of their same nationality. Facing this, I pointed out that South Korea should make up their political mind to stop so-called defensive annual joint-military exercises such as the Key Resolve and Foal Eagles (drills) starting from the end of February."
But Ji Jae Ryong reiterated that Pyongyang had no intention of abandoning its nuclear weapons programme and he made no mention of the pledge to hold family reunions ahead of the drills.
Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy on North Kor
Pyongyang's Ambassador to China said North Korea wanted to reduce tensions to allow reconciliation between the North and the South.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO CHINA JI JAE RYONG SAYING:
"This time, we once again suggest that South Korea stop immediately without questions, all hostile military actions with foreign powers which opposes people of their same nationality. Facing this, I pointed out that South Korea should make up their political mind to stop so-called defensive annual joint-military exercises such as the Key Resolve and Foal Eagles (drills) starting from the end of February."
But Ji Jae Ryong reiterated that Pyongyang had no intention of abandoning its nuclear weapons programme and he made no mention of the pledge to hold family reunions ahead of the drills.
Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy on North Kor