N Korea threatens 'high-handed' US

Pyongyang's nuclear programme has caused an uproar

North Korea has warned that if the US continues to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme, the Stalinist country will be forced to take "tougher counteraction".

If the US persists in its moves to pressurise and stifle the DPRK by force, the latter will have no option but to take a tougher counteraction

Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun

A characteristically tough-worded commentary in the ruling party's mouthpiece newspaper said the US should "opt for reconciliation and peace, not strong-arm policy".

The US has said North Korea should immediately dismantle the nuclear programme - which became public last week - which violates international agreements.

But President George W Bush has said he believes the issue can be resolved peacefully.

Just rhetoric?

"The US is now calling for 'arm-reduction' of the DPRK (North Korea), making a hue and cry over its 'threat', said a commentary in Rodong Sinmun, carried by the state news agency KCNA.

"But such a row does not stand to reason and it will get the US nowhere."

"Such threatening and high-handed practice... was a vivid expression of the US imperialists' brigandish and arrogant nature," the commentary added.

It was unclear to what extent the newspaper report represented the view of the North Korean leadership. Harsh rhetoric in the media often accompanies Pyongyang's moves towards engagement.

North Korea was reported as saying on Monday, in its first response to Washington's announcement of the nuclear programme, that it was ready to discuss the issue.

According to the South Korean media reports, North Korea's Kim Yong-nam, the country's number two, said: "We consider the recent situation seriously. If the United States is willing to withdraw its hostile policy toward the North, the North also is ready to resolve security concerns through dialogue."

Talks stalled

North and South Korea are currently in talks, initially planned to discuss reconciliation projects, but which have been overshadowed by the nuclear issue.

But a South Korean official told AFP news agency that the talks are deadlocked over North Korea's refusal to agree to meet nuclear safeguards in a joint statement.

President Bush will meet leaders of China, Japan and South Korea at a Pacific Rim summit later this week to discuss the issue.

A 1994 accord arranged for an international consortium to build two nuclear power reactors in return for North Korea ending its own programmes is now in doubt.

But correspondents say the accord is one of the few means of exerting leverage over the secretive North, and many governments will be reluctant to give it up.