As conditions for progress in stalled nuclear talks, North Korea said Monday it wants a peace treaty with the United States that formally ends the Korean War and the removal of U.N. sanctions that are squeezing its anemic economy.
"If confidence is to be built" between itself and the United States, North Korea said, the truce that ended the conflict in 1953 must be replaced with a formal peace treaty ending "the state of war that is the root cause of hostile relations."
In its statement Monday, North Korea said it would not return to stalled six-party talks on nuclear disarmament unless U.N. sanctions are lifted. Parties in the talks are the United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia.
North Korea abandoned the talks last year, but in the past six months, they have significantly moderated their tone and calmed their belligerent behavior. Analysts speculate that U.N. banking, trade and arms-sale sanctions have cut off revenue to the government of leader Kim Jong Il.
"Today the talks remain blocked by the barrier of distrust called sanctions," the North Korean statement said.
My question to you: What do you think the United States should do?
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