N Korea demands end of sanctions if US wants talk

North Korea demanded today the removal of UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear and missile tests and a US pledge not to engage in "nuclear war practice" with South Korea if Washington truly sought dialogue.

North Korea demanded on Thursday the removal of UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear and missile tests and a US pledge not to engage in "nuclear war practice" with South Korea if Washington truly sought dialogue.

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"If the United States and the puppet South have the slightest desire to avoid the sledge-hammer blow of our army and the people ... and truly wish dialogue and negotiations, they must make the resolute decision," the North's National Defence Commission said in a statement.

"Firstly, the sanctions resolutions by the UN Security Council that were fabricated with unjust reasons must be withdrawn," the North's top military body said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.