North Korea wants sanctions eased to restart US talks
North Korea wants international sanctions banning its metal exports and imports of refined fuel and other necessities lifted before it restarts denuclearisation talks with the United States, South Korean lawmakers said yesterday.
The North has also demanded the easing of sanctions on its imports of luxury goods to be able to bring in fine liquors and suits, the lawmakers said after being briefed by Park Jie-won, head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), South Korea's main intelligence agency.
The briefing came a week after the two Koreas restored hotlines that North Korea suspended a year ago, the first hint in months that North Korea might be more responsive to engagement efforts.
"As a precondition to reopen talks, North Korea argues that the United States should allow mineral exports and imports of refined oil and necessities," Ha Tae-keung, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters, citing Park.
North Korea's state-run media made no mention yesterday of any new request for the lifting sanctions to restart talks.
North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006 and test-fired missiles capable of hitting the US. However the country has not tested a nuclear weapon or its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) since 2017.
After a review of North Korea policy, the Biden administration said it would explore diplomacy to achieve the goal of complete denuclearisation of North Korea but would not seek a grand bargain with Kim.
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