The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denounced recent remarks about Pyongyang's ideology and policy priority by Christopher Hill, US chief negotiator for the six-party talks, on Friday.

"The remarks pose us a serious question of whether we can sit together with those who participate in the talks but are engrossed in how to demolish our regime without consideration of basic trust on their dialogue partners," said a commentary by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

According to the KCNA, Hill said that DPRK's economic difficulties stemmed from its misplaced policy of giving priority to military issues during an interview with a group of youth delegates from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies on Nov. 19.

"Hill's remarks squarely run counter to and clamp down on the spirit of the Sept.19 agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and stress peaceful co-existence," the commentary said.

Hill's way of thinking disclosed again that Washington would not recognize DPRK as a state and would not change its hostile policy toward it, the commentary added.

"We cannot discuss the nuclear issue with those who focus primarily on toppling our regime, and we once again recognize the importance of strengthening nuclear deterrence for self-defense," it said.

During the fourth round of six-party talks held in November, negotiators of the two Koreas, China, the United States, Russia and Japan adopted a common statement to resolve the standoff over nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula.

At the statement, the DPRK promised to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs while the United States affirmed that it had no intention of attacking or invading the DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons.

The DPRK and the United States also pledged in the statement to respect each other's sovereignty, co-exist peacefully, and take steps to normalize their relations.

The latest round of six-party talks was held in early November,during which all parties agreed to meet again in Beijing as soon as possible after a recess.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2005)