This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8451114.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US warns N Korea on rights record | US warns N Korea on rights record |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| North Korea must improve its "appalling" human rights record if it wants better relations with the United States, a US envoy has said. | North Korea must improve its "appalling" human rights record if it wants better relations with the United States, a US envoy has said. |
| Robert King, US special envoy for North Korean human rights, is on his first official trip to South Korea. | Robert King, US special envoy for North Korean human rights, is on his first official trip to South Korea. |
| North Korea said it could return to talks on its nuclear programme in exchange for a peace treaty with the US and an end to sanctions. | North Korea said it could return to talks on its nuclear programme in exchange for a peace treaty with the US and an end to sanctions. |
| The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire not a peace treaty. | The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire not a peace treaty. |
| In a statement carried on North Korea's official news agency, the foreign ministry said "it is essential to conclude a peace treaty for terminating the state of war, a root cause of the hostile relations" between Pyongyang and the US. | In a statement carried on North Korea's official news agency, the foreign ministry said "it is essential to conclude a peace treaty for terminating the state of war, a root cause of the hostile relations" between Pyongyang and the US. |
| The North has previously said it could return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programme, but these are the first conditions that it has set out. | The North has previously said it could return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programme, but these are the first conditions that it has set out. |
| 'Important condition' | 'Important condition' |
| The statement comes as Mr King described the North's human rights situation as "appalling". He said human rights must be addressed as part of stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks. | The statement comes as Mr King described the North's human rights situation as "appalling". He said human rights must be addressed as part of stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks. |
| "It's one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights," he said on the first day of a fact-finding visit to South Korea. | "It's one of the worst places in terms of lack of human rights," he said on the first day of a fact-finding visit to South Korea. |
| "As we have said on many occasions a relationship between the US and North Korea will have to involve human rights," Mr King told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. | "As we have said on many occasions a relationship between the US and North Korea will have to involve human rights," Mr King told reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. |
| "To improve relations between the US and North Korea will have to involve a greater respect for human rights by North Korea. That's one of the important conditions," he said. | "To improve relations between the US and North Korea will have to involve a greater respect for human rights by North Korea. That's one of the important conditions," he said. |
| Pyongyang pulled out of talks on ending its nuclear programme last April following widespread condemnation of a long-range missile launch. | Pyongyang pulled out of talks on ending its nuclear programme last April following widespread condemnation of a long-range missile launch. |
| International pressure grew following a nuclear test in May - which drew UN sanctions and further missile tests. | International pressure grew following a nuclear test in May - which drew UN sanctions and further missile tests. |
| But in December, North Korea said it would work with the US to "narrow remaining differences" following a visit to Pyongyang by US President Barack Obama's special envoy Stephen Bosworth. | But in December, North Korea said it would work with the US to "narrow remaining differences" following a visit to Pyongyang by US President Barack Obama's special envoy Stephen Bosworth. |
| The six-party talks bring together the two Koreas, the US, China, Japan and Russia. |