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An image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un overseeing a massive gathering of the North Korean Air Force at Wonsan-Kalma International Airport published by the Rodong Sinmun on Nov. 16. (Yonhap News)

A spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said on Nov. 17 that the nuclear issue “would never be put under discussion before the withdrawal of the US hostile policy would be put on the agenda for the sake of improved relations with the DPRK.”

In a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the spokesperson referred to the UN’s adoption of a resolution on North Korean human rights as proving that the US “is still wedded to the hostile policy to isolate and stifle the DPRK.”

Commenting on the UN resolutions’ adoption, the spokesperson said, “We approach with vigilance the fact that the US has made another political provocation getting on our nerves at this crucial time when the DPRK-US relations are put into delicate moment.”

“[W]e have no willingness to meet such dialogue partner,” the statement said. But the window left open by its reference to “before the withdrawal of the US hostile policy would be put on the agenda” suggests that it is gearing up for a battle of nerves ahead of full-scale negotiations with Washington, rather than a complete suspension of dialogue.

On Nov. 14, a North Korean human rights resolution was adopted by “consensus” without voting by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly’s 74th session. The draft was written by the European Union (EU), with the US, Japan, and 59 other member countries acting as co-sponsors. South Korea did not participate as a co-sponsor for the first time in the 11 years since 2008. The South Korean government explained that its decision was “based on general consideration of the various circumstances, including the current political situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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