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U.S. Congress Delegation Leaves

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

    Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- The U.S. delegation of congressmen led by Curt Weldon, vice-chairman of the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives, left here today after winding up its four-day visit to the DPRK. During its stay, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and met with the DPRK minister of Foreign Affairs and its vice-minister for U.S. affairs and the chief of the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army. At the meetings they had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the pending issues between the DPRK and the U.S., including the nuclear issue and the six-party talks.
    At the meetings, the DPRK side reaffirmed its will to settle the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiations and explained why it has decided to resume the six-way talks after closely following what a policy the second Bush administration would shape. Stressing the need to take a future-oriented approach toward improving the bilateral relations in the new century, instead of repeating the unpleasant past, the DPRK side expressed its stand that the DPRK would not stand against the U.S. but respect and treat it as a friend unless the latter slanders the former's system and interferes in its internal affairs.
    As regards this position, the U.S. congress delegation said it came to know well about the DPRK's stand, expressing the stance that the U.S. does not antagonize the DPRK nor has any intention to invade the DPRK and overthrow its system.
    The DPRK side assured the U.S. side that the DPRK would opt for finding a final solution to all the outstanding issues between the two countries, to say nothing of the resumption of the six-party talks and the nuclear issue, if what U.S. congressmen said would be formulated as a policy of the second Bush administration.
    During its stay the delegation toured different parts of Pyongyang, including Kim Il Sung University, the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Pyongyang Metro, the Mansudae Art Studio, the Korean Stamp Exhibition, the Folkcraft Exhibition and a market in Thongil Street. They expressed thanks for the Korean people's kindness and cordial hospitality.