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Pacific Stars and Stripes
October 7, 1999
Pg. 4

By Jim Lea, Stripes Osan Bureau Chief

The United States' recent lifting of economic sanctions against North Korea is "neither a benefit nor a gift" to the Stalinist state, the official newspaper of Pyongyang's ruling Workers Party has declared.

Last month, President Clinton lifted some long-standing economic sanctions against North Korea in return for an oral promise by Pyongyang not to fire a Taepodong-2 missile, which it has been preparing for several months to launch. Following a meeting in Berlin, North Korea also agreed to put its missile development program temporarily on hold.

"Describing the (lifting of sanctions) as a 'concession' and claiming 'a complete stop in missile development' can be done only by those who do not know the essence of the point at issue or by political swindlers who have insidious political purpose," the Rodong Shinmun said in a commentary.

If the United States wants to improve relations with Pyongyang, the newspaper commentary said, it "should totally lift economic sanctions, sign a (Korean War) peace treaty with the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) and withdraw its troops from South Korea."

If Washington does those things, the newspaper said, "the DPRK will reply with trust."

Several times since the sanctions were lifted, North Korean officials have said Pyongyang will continue its missile development and will launch missiles whenever it deems necessary. The report was carried by the North's state-operated Korean Central News Agency was monitored in Seoul on Tuesday.