DPRK urges U.S. to conclude peace treaty

PYONGYANG, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States should agree with the proposal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on negotiating a new peace treaty with it, said an official newspaper of the DPRK on Friday.

The treaty, which is expected by the DPRK to replace the Korean War Armistice Agreement signed in 1957, will help build confidence between the DPRK and the U.S. and promote denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, said the Rodong Sinmun daily in a commentary.

Days have passed since the DPRK made the proposal, but some countries still insisted that the DPRK should "dismantle its nukes first", the report said.

"This cannot be interpreted as remarks made by those who truly wish for peace, stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

The DPRK's proposal is "a reasonable one" aiming to end the hostility between the country and the U.S., said the article.

On Jan.18, Pyongyang renewed its demands of negotiating a peace treaty and lifting sanctions before it would return to the six-party talks, saying failure of the discussion on concluding a peace treaty would consequently "push back the process of denuclearization."

But the U.S. dismissed the proposal later, reiterating that the first and foremost thing for Pyongyang is to return to the six-party talks.