U.S. vows to increase pressure on DPRK
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E-mail Xinhua, December 18, 2012
The United States on Monday vowed to increase pressure on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its repeated breach of obligations, and ruled out renewal of six-party talks for now over the denuclearization issue on the Korean Peninsula.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland made the comments as some Republican lawmakers have criticized the Obama administration's approach to Pyongyang over its failure to stop the Asian nation from further developing its nuclear and missile programs.
She referred again to the DPRK's launches of two satellites in April and last week as well as its abrogation of agreements in response to Washington's efforts to pursue a dialogue with its new leadership.
Washington and its allies saw Pyongyang's satellite launches as disguised ballistic missile tests banned under UN resolutions adopted following the country's nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
"So, in the context of the consultations that we're having now with our six-party counterparts and in New York, what's left to us is to continue to increase the pressure on the North Korean regime, " Nuland said at a regular news briefing.
"And we're looking at how best to do that, both bilaterally and with our partners going forward, until they get the message," she added. "We're going to have to continue to further isolate this regime."
The UN Security Council has condemned DPRK's fresh satellite launch, but is still continuing consultations on "appropriate response."
Nuland ruled out renewal of six-party talks at the moment, saying "We and our partners are not in the business of rewarding them. So I would not look for that kind of a move now."
The six-party talks involve the U.S., the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, China, Russia and Japan.
