U.S. pullout needs for arms reduction: NK paper

North Korea`s Rodong Shinmun has asserted that the withdrawal of U. S. troops from South Korea is the path toward arms reduction and peace and the pending issue to be discussed urgently between the U. S. and the North.

Quoting the Rodong Shinmun issued Monday, the North Korean Central News Agency reported that the American forces in Korea is the root of trouble intensifying armed race on the peninsula, increasing danger for war and threatening peace and stability.

Contending that the U. S. calls for the North`s armed reduction, while leaving its troops in South Korea is very shameless act, the communist paper also stressed that the U. S. military pullout is the preliminary and urgent task for guaranteeing arms reduction and peace on the Korean peninsula, the news agency added.

Ha Tae-Won scooop@donga.com