INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
North Korea, US adopted a disarmament deal at Singapore summit in June this year
cases of coal shipments that potentially violated U.N
resolutions.Pyongyang had demonstrated good faith by ending nuclear weapons testing and returning the remains of U.S
troops killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, and the resolutions had lost a reason to exist, said the Rodong Sinmun, a mouthpiece of the ruling
Workers' Party.The statements came days after a confidential United Nations report concluded that North Korea had not halted nuclear and
missile programmes, in breach of U.N
resolutions, and continued illegal trade in oil, coal and other commodities.South Korea is examining nine cases in which coal from North
Korea disguised as Russian products was possibly brought in, Seoul's foreign ministry and customs officials said.They declined to detail the
number of ships or identify the companies involved, saying the investigation was in the final phase following raids and forensic analysis,
but some cases might prove lawful.North Korea and the United States vowed to work to end Pyongyang's weapons programmes at a landmark summit
in June in Singapore, but have struggled to reach a pact to meet that goal.The Rodong Sinmun accused Washington of "acting opposite" to its
plan to improve ties, despite goodwill gestures by Pyongyang, such as a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, the dismantling of a
nuclear site, and the return of the remains of U.S
soldiers killed in the Korean War."There have been outrageous arguments coming out of the U.S
State Department that it won't ease sanctions until a denuclearisation is completed, and reinforcing sanctions is a way to raise its
negotiating power," it said in an editorial."How could the sanctions, which were a stick the U.S
administration had brandished as part of its hostile policy against us, promote the two countries' amity"The editorial, which accompanied
front-page articles and photographs of leader Kim Jong Un's visit to a catfish farm, was a fresh sign of Pyongyang's frustration over the
slow-moving nuclear talks.Under President Donald Trump, the United States pushed the United Nations to impose tough sanctions on North Korea
as Kim conducted a string of missile and nuclear tests last year.At a security forum on Saturday, the two sides sparred over the Singapore
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling for sanctions against Pyongyang to be maintained, and his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong Ho,
criticising Washington for "retreating" from ending the war.Pompeo suggested the North's continued work on its weapons programmes was
inconsistent with Kim's commitment to denuclearise, but expressed optimism it would be achieved.Returning to Washington, Pompeo played down
the exchange with Ri, saying the tone was far different from last year."The minister made very clear of their continued commitment to
denuclearize," Pompeo told reporters travelling with him."I probably don't have his words exactly right, but it's pretty close
Compare the anger, frankly, over years and years, and hatred, as spewed by the North Koreans; his comments were different."North Korea's
propaganda websites on Monday also urged the United States to drop sanctions and build trust.One of them, Uriminzokkiri, lambasted the
sanctions and pressure campaign as "anachronistic" and a hurdle to better relations, urging efforts to officially declare an end to the
Korean War.The Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the U.S.-led United Nations forces, including South Korea,
technically still at war with the North.The State Department has said it is committed to building a peace mechanism to replace the
armistice, but only after the North abandons its nuclear programme.Maeri, another North Korean website, stressed the need for U.S
action to build confidence in response to the North's moves to end weapons programmes and send back the remains."It takes two to tango," it
said.Kim Eui-kyeom, a spokesman for South Korea's presidential Blue House, said on Monday the government was asking the North to hasten
headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
