North Korea calls for U.S. troops pull-out

A U.S. hardline stance on North Korea has affected South Korea's "Sunshine Policy"

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea is demanding that the U.S. withdraw its troops in South Korea as a prerequisite for disarmament on the Korean peninsula.

"If the U.S. is really interested in disarmament on the Korean peninsula, first of all, it should pull its aggression troops out of South Korea," the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said Sunday.

Currently, 37,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to deter a potential invasion by North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War which ended without a peace agreement.

	MESSAGE BOARD
North and South Korea

"Recently, the Bush administration's hegemonism (sic) and hostile policy toward the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) ... render the situation more dangerous," the newspaper said.

North Korean media have stepped up criticism of the U.S. since a March meeting in Washington between U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean leader Kim Dae-Jung.

Bush told Kim that he would not resume missile talks with Pyongyang in the near future, since there was no reliable way to ensure North Korea's weapons control.

The U.S. considers North Korea a rogue state that sells arms to Pakistan, Syria, and other Middle East countries.

Sunshine policy shadowed

North Korea's latest moves have apparently cast a shadow on Kim Dae-jung's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement which had earned him the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

More reunions of families separated by the Korean War will be delayed

The North has cancelled cabinet-level talks with Seoul, including a meeting to set up a fresh round of reunions among families separated by the Korean War.

It also backed out of a deal to send a joint table tennis team to this month's world championships in Japan.

A day after Kim's arrival from Washington in March, his announcement that U.S.-South Korea ties remain strong prompted North Korea officials to cancel a visit to Seoul.

In early April, North Korea leader Kim Jong-il also put off for later in the year a visit to the South Korean capital which was earlier set for June.

The anticipated June meeting sought to follow up on a historic summit between the two Korean leaders in the same month last year.

A plan to reconnect a railway line crossing a heavily guarded border later this year may also be put on hold.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Two Korea talks are frozen solid
2 April 2001
Kim Dae-jung says U.S.-South Korea relations strong
11 March 2001
Bush talks tough on North Korea
7 March 2001

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) references
U.S. State Department: North Korea human rights report
Korean Central News Agency

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