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U.S. criticizes DPRK's offer on nuclear tests moratorium

Xinhua, January 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki on Saturday criticized an offer by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to suspend future nuclear tests temporarily if Washington agreed to temporarily halt joint military exercises with South Korea this year.

Psaki told reporters that the DPRK statement "inappropriately" links routine U.S.-South Korean exercises to the possibility of a nuclear test and called the proposal an "implicit threat".

"We called on the DPRK to immediately cease all threats, reduce tensions, and take the necessary steps toward denuclearization needed to resume credible negotiations," said Psaki, who was traveling with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Munich en route to India.

The DPRK's official news agency KCNA reported Saturday that the DPRK government made a "crucial" proposal Friday to the U.S. side demanding suspension of joint military drills to be conducted with South Korea for this year, which "contributes to easing tension on the Korean Peninsula." In response, Pyongyang would temporarily suspend its nuclear test.

Each year, South Korea and the United States conduct a number of joint military drills including "Foal Eagle" and "Ulchi Freedom Guardian". Endi