ARIRANG NEWS 22:00
Hello... it′s Saturday the thirty-first of January... you are tuned in to our late night newscast coming to you from Arirang′s News Center in Seoul.
Thanks for joining us,... I′m Mark Broome.
N. Korea should be ready for productive talks: State Dept.
Our top story this evening...
The United States has downplayed speculation that it has been angling for talks with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.
The State Department says its stance remains the same: Pyongyang has to show a clear willingness to denuclearize or talks won′t be happening anytime soon.
Hwang Ji-hye reports.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki has dismissed speculation Washington has been seeking talks with North Korea in China.
She was looking to clarify the State Department′s stance after comments made by a key U.S. official in Beijing.
Speaking to reporters in the Chinese capital on Friday, Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, said the North most likely knew about his trip to China,... hinting that there could have been an opportunity for the two sides to meet.
The State Department spokesperson said, however,... that there were no plans for a meeting during the U.S. envoy′s trip... adding that the North is refusing to abide by the 2005 joint statement... in which the regime pledged to end its nuclear weapons program.
"The question is whether the North Koreans are ready for any serious and productive discussion on the nuclear issue. And that′s something we′re continuing to look for."
She said the U.S. has not seen any indication the North is willing to denuclearize,... stressing that Washington needs to see Pyongyang taking positive and responsible steps before discussions can resume.
Psaki′s remarks are in line with comments made by Sung Kim earlier this month,... in which he said it was important for North Korea to meet its international obligations to denuclearize.
Hwang Ji-hye, Arirang News.
N. Korean leader oversees military drill, slams Obama for comments about regime
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a joint naval and air force drill simulating an attack on the U.S. Navy,... in an apparent reaction to recent comments made by U.S. President Barack Obama in which he said the regime was doomed to collapse.
The North′s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday... that the drill was initiated by Kim personally... as he "no longer plans to sit face to face with rabid dogs barking loudly,"... in a comment clearly directed at Obama and the U.S. government.
According to the report,... Kim said the North will counter any war, including a nuclear war, against the United States.
The report failed to mention when or where the drill took place.
North Korea has already held two air force and army drills this month,... but this latest exercise was even bigger, involving fighter jets and other powerful military hardware.
S. Korean gov′t starting prepa
