North Korea wants all sanctions lifted

SINGAPORE, July 23 (UPI) -- The United States should drop its "hostile policy" by lifting all its sanctions against North Korea, a Pyongyang official said Wednesday in Singapore. In the island state for a meeting of the foreign ministers of the six nations involved in North Korea's denuclearization, Ri Dong-il, speaking for the North Korean foreign minister, said his country last month submitted a long-due declaration of its nuclear programs "in a sincere effort," Yonhap news agency reported. In return, he said the United States only lifted part of its sanctions. Urging more needs to be done, Ri said, "An important thing in the next stage is for the United States to lift punitive measures and hostile policies completely and fundamentally," the report said. The meeting of the foreign ministers of the United States, Russia,... [read full story]