In New Year's message, North Korea demands US troops pullout
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-01 10:08

North Korea on Sunday issued a New Year's message demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, and accusing Washington of seeking to launch a new war in the peninsula.

"All the Koreans ... must never tolerate treacherous acts of anti-reunification forces who are conspiring with foreign forces. We should launch a dynamic campaign against war and for peace," said a joint editorial carried by North Korea's Rodong Sinmun and two other major state-run newspapers.

North Korea traditionally marks New Year's Day with a joint editorial by the country's three major newspapers.

"The entire nation should firmly defend peace and security on the Korean Peninsula by turning out in the struggle to resolutely foil the U.S. attempt to launch another war. We must remove the root cause of war completely from this land by launching a nationwide campaign for driving out the U.S. troops," said the editorial carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency.

The New Year's message didn't mention a word about the nuclear standoff with the United States.

The United States, the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia have held fifth rounds of talks since 2003 to find a way of ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

In September, North Korea agreed to give up its atomic programs in return for aid and security assurances. But no progress has been made on implementing the agreement after North Korea placed conditions on its disarmament. The United States has rejected such conditions.

The North has attempted to justify its nuclear weapons program, saying it serves as a deterrent against a U.S. attack. Washington has repeatedly said it has no intention of invading the country, but distrust between the two governments runs deep.

In December, Pyongyang threatened to boycott nuclear talks with the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia unless the U.S. sanctions imposed over its alleged illicit activities are lifted.