US refuses to ease sanctions against North Korea

The US says easing sanctions against North Korea is out of the question until Pyongyang returns to the six-party talks on its nuclear disarmament.

US Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell rejected the North Korea’s terms for resuming the nuclear disarmament talks.

“Until those steps are taken, the United States will not be prepared either to ease sanctions nor begin discussions on other issues like the establishment of a peace regime,” Campbell said in South Korean on Wednesday.

Campbell told reporters that the North must show willingness to scrap its nuclear program.

Pyongyang wants to discuss a peace treaty with Washington separate from the six-party talks — which brings together China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, North Korea and the United States.

However, Campbell said that “the essential next step is really the six-party talks, not discussions on another matters.”