DPRK ambassador to China, Choe Jin Su, made the remark at a press conference here Friday.

To solve the DPRK nuclear issue peacefully, the United States should dialogue face-to-face with no pre-conditions and sign a non-aggression treaty to provide a legal guarantee for the safety of the DPRK, Choe said.

The nuclear issue is at its most grave moment, because the United States waived its obligations under the DPRK-US Agreed Framework and suspended the supply of heavy fuel oil to the DPRK, Choe said.

Under such conditions, the DPRK had to lift the nuclear freeze and ask the UN nuclear inspectors to leave the DPRK, he said.

The ambassador mentioned that US President George. W. Bush expressed the hope for a peaceful resolution to the DPRK nuclear issue by diplomatic means and the United States has no intention of invading the DPRK.

But Choe said the DPRK cannot trust Bush's words, since the United States, while talking about a peaceful resolution, rejected signing a non-aggression treaty with the DPRK.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2003)