North Korea calls for U.S. to drop sanctions as Seoul probes illicit coal shipments

North Korean state media on Mondayurged the United States to drop sanctionsas South Korea saidit was investigating nine cases of coal shipments to the North thatpotentially violated UNresolutions.

Pyongyang had demonstrated good faith by ending nuclearweapons testing and returning the remains of U.S. troops killedin the 1950-53 Korean War, and the resolutions had lost a reasonto exist, said the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The statements came days after a confidential United Nationsreport concluded that North Korea had not halted nuclear andmissile program, in breach of UNresolutions, and continuedillegal trade in oil, coal and other commodities.

How could the sanctions, which were a stick the U.S. administration had brandished as part of its hostile policy against us, promote the two countries' amity?- Rodong Sinmunnewspaper

South Korea is examining nine cases in which coal from NorthKorea disguised as Russian products was possibly brought in,Seoul's foreign ministry and customs officials said.

They declined to detail the number of ships or identify thecompanies involved, saying the investigation was in the finalphase following raids and forensic analysis, but some casesmight prove lawful.

North Korea and the United States vowed to work to endPyongyang's weapons programsat a landmark summit in June inSingapore, but have struggled to reach a pact to meet that goal.

'Outrageous arguments'

The Rodong Sinmun accused Washington of "acting opposite" toits plan to improve ties, despite goodwill gestures by Pyongyang, such as a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests,the dismantling of a nuclear site, and the return of the remainsof U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War.

"There have been outrageous arguments coming out of the U.S.State Department that it won't ease sanctions until a
denuclearization is completed, and reinforcing sanctions is away to raise its negotiating power," it said in an editorial.

"How could the sanctions, which were a stick the U.S.administration had brandished as part of its hostile policy against us, promote the two countries' amity?"

The editorial, which accompanied front-page articles andphotographs of leader Kim Jong-un's visit to a catfish farm, wasa fresh sign of Pyongyang's frustration over the slow-movingnuclear talks.

Under U.S. President Donald Trump, Washingtonpushed theUnited Nations to impose tough sanctions on North Korea as Kimconducted a string of missile and nuclear tests last year.

At a security forum on Saturday, the two sides sparred overthe Singapore pact, with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeocalling for sanctions against Pyongyang to be maintained, andhis North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, criticizing Washingtonfor "retreating" from ending the war.

Pompeo suggested the North's continued work on its weaponsprograms was inconsistent with Kim's commitment to denuclearize, but expressed optimism it would be achieved.

Returning to Washington, Pompeo played down the exchangewith Ri, saying the tone was far different from last year.

"The minister made very clear of their continued commitmentto denuclearize," Pompeo told reporters travelling with him.

"I probably don't have his words exactly right, but it'spretty close. Compare the anger, frankly, over years and years, and hatred, as spewed by the North Koreans. His comments weredifferent."

'It takes 2to tango'

North Korea's propaganda websites on Monday also urged theUnited States to drop sanctions and build trust.

One of them, Uriminzokkiri, lambasted the sanctions andpressure campaign as "anachronistic" and a hurdle to betterrelations, urging efforts to officially declare an end to theKorean War.

The Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty,leaving the U.S.-led United Nations forces, including South Korea, technically still at war with the North.

The State Department has said it is committed to building apeace mechanism to replace the armistice, but only after theNorth abandons its nuclear program.

Maeri, another North Korean website, stressed the need forU.S. action to build confidence in response to the North's movesto end weapons programs and send back the remains.

"It takes two to tango," it said.

Kim Eui-kyeom, a spokespersonfor South Korea's presidentialBlue House, said on Monday the government was asking the Northto hasten denuclearization and the United States to showsincerity over the North's demands for reciprocal steps.