北 "북미대화에 남한 참견말라"... 文대통령 '물밑대화' 발언 전면 부정<br /><br />A senior official at North Korea's foreign ministry issued an anger-charged statement this morning.<br />He slammed the U.S. for what he calls "hostile acts" and Seoul for acting as a mediator.<br />Oh Jung-hee help us read between the lines. <br />A strong message of discontent from North Korea over America's (quote)"hostile acts" and Seoul's efforts to mediate.<br />The official in charge of U.S. affairs at Pyeongyang's foreign ministry, Kwon Jong-gun, issued a statement on Thursday.<br />He urged the U.S. to change its calculations when it comes to the nuclear talks, saying dialogue won't resume unless Washington offers realistic measures that satisfy both sides. <br />He stressed that the deadline is indeed the end of this year and the North means it. <br />The official denounced South Korea as well.<br />Pyeongyang and Washington are the two parties involved, he said,... and they don't need Seoul to mediate.<br />And despite Seoul's claims that dialogue is going on behind the scenes, he said that in fact... nothing is happening.<br />The statement slams both Seoul and Washington in a fairly strong tone.<br />It came on the very next day after the regime condemned the U.S. for continuing what it called "hostile acts," referring to the recent extension of sanctions by another year.<br />And, the statement included a direct rebuttal to President Moon Jae-in's remark on Wednesday... that North Korea and the U.S. are engaged in discussions behind the scenes about a third summit.<br />"The content of the statement is very strong. The North outright rejected South Korea's role as a mediator and President Moon's remark. The timing of it also raises eyebrows. It showed distrust towards Seoul."<br />There are concerns that this statement might throw a wet blanket on what seemed to be nuclear diplomacy about to resume... with the recent exchange of letters between Kim Jong-un and Trump.<br />But the expert said that the door is still open for dialogue.<br />"Seoul's unification ministry didn't respond to the North's statement.<br />It said... Seoul will stay involved and continue working to resume dialogue as soon as possible between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the U.S., to achieve denuclearization and peace.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News." <br />
