N.Korea uses nuclear program to urge dialogue with US

North Korea has confirmed that that its representatives recently held talks with the U.S. in Singapore, reiterating its plan to fully review its nuclear program. The unusual move seems to be aimed at pressuring Washington to come to the negotiating table.

Voice of America said Friday that Choe Sun Hui, deputy director at the North Korean Foreign Ministry, said in an email to the broadcaster that officials from Pyongyang and Washington made an “unofficial contact” in Singapore from Tuesday through Thursday.

Claiming that his government plans to review its nuclear program because of "hostile U.S. policy” toward North Korea, Choe said the resolution of the matter and improvement of bilateral relations depend solely on Washington’s determination.

On July 20, the North issued a Foreign Ministry statement saying a recently failed attempt by South Korea and the U.S. to destroy the statue of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung prompted Pyongyang to fully review its nuclear program. On July 31, Pyongyang also announced that it would respond to the hostile U.S. policy by strengthening its nuclear deterrence.

Baek Seung-joo, a senior researcher at the (South) Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said North Korea is urging negotiations since the U.S. has not gone to the negotiating table despite Pyongyang’s announcement that it would not conduct a nuclear test after its launch of a long-range missile in April.

will71@donga.com