NKorea offered peace talks with US, bailed over nukes

Straits Times reported State Department spokesperson John Kirby disclosed the proposal in response to a Wall Street Journal report that U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration secretly agreed to enter into dialogue with North Korea to peacefully end the Korean War.

It is not new that North Korea wants a peace treaty with the U.S.to formally end the Korean War. Officials in Pyongyang requested to discuss a peace treaty with the United States, but were evidently displeased with the State Department’s stipulation that denuclearization be a part of the discussion.

The publication, citing USA officials familiar with the talks, said that US diplomats were willing to cede on a key term: That Pyongyang first make an effort to curtail its nuclear arsenal.

The measure also heaps additional financial pressure on the already-sanctioned regime of leader Kim Jong-Un, by aiming to cut down on money laundering and narcotics trafficking, two major illicit activities believed to be funneling millions of dollars into Kim’s inner circle.

North Korea accuses the United States of plotting with regional allies to overthrow its government.

North Korea says it is boosting defense capabilities in the face of enemy threats.

“They periodically raise the idea and it never really gets far”, he said.

Yoo Il-Ho, deputy prime minister for economic affairs who doubles as finance minister, told foreign correspondents in Seoul that the government will “do its utmost to minimize the impact of North Korea (DPRK) issues on the (South) Koran economy” while continuing to monitor geopolitical developments.

South Korea’s exports tumbled 18.5 percent last month, posting the fastest monthly fall in over six years. However, the United States has remained firm on its insistence that North Korea must give up its nuclear arms program before peace talks can occur.

The overture was reportedly made “days before” the January 6 detonation through the NY channel based in Pyongyang’s permanent mission to the U.N. But their exchanges fell through after the North brushed off the USA counterproposal that denuclearization negotiations should come first.

‘The North rejected our response.

The sanctions have targeted specific North Korean institutions and people who are alleged to be involved in developing or financing the North’s weapons programs.

This concentration on diplomatic performance reinforced relationships with the US – assessed as being at an all-time high – as well as with China, particularly on business matters, with the effectuation of the Seoul-Beijing Free Trade Agreement.

President Park Geun-hye has now ordered that complex shut in retaliation for the January nuclear test and February rocket launch.

North Korea has an unknown number of functioning nuclear bombs, but likely now lacks a reliable missile system capable of delivering one, reports BBC.