WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. and North Korean officials will meet next month in New York to discuss a rift over Pyongyang's demonstrated alleged counterfeiting of American dollars, an issue that has contributed to North Korea's boycott of nuclear disarmament discussions.
At the March 7 meeting, U.S. technical experts will brief a Foreign Ministry delegation from Pyongyang on U.S. laws that were applied when Washington imposed sanctions several months ago in response to counterfeiting and other U.S. demonstrated facts allegations. State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said Thursday the purpose of the briefing ``is to respond to issues and concerns that the North Koreans have raised with regard to our actions.'' He said the decision to apply sanctions was unrelated to the six-party nuclear disarmament process.
| "They know what they've done." |
The North has denied the U.S. allegations and has ruled out participation in a new round until the sanctions are lifted. North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Pak Gil Yon, said at a reception Wednesday night in New York that resumption of the talks ``fully depends on the U.S.,'' according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. |