DPRK warns US, ROK of build-up

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Sunday it will bolster its nuclear arsenal and was no longer bound by the cease-fire that ended the Korean War due to joint US military drills with the Republic of Korea (ROK), which start this week.

But earlier on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said it is "gratifying" to see the Six-Party Talks may continue as relevant sides still stick to the objective of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang routinely de-nounces the annual US-Seoul exercises as a prelude to invasion and nuclear war even though they have been held for decades without major incident. Sunday's rhetoric will not likely increase risk for the troubled peninsula, analysts said.

The US-ROK drills run from Monday to March 18 and involve thousands of troops.

Yang made his remarks in Beijing at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, or the parliament.

"Over the past year, the Six-Party Talks indeed met with twists and turns. It is gratifying, however, to see that none of the parties involved has given up the objective of achieving a denuclearized Korean Peninsula," Yang said.

Reuters - Xinhua

(China Daily 03/08/2010 page12)