SEOUL (Dispatches) – North Korea called on Friday for an end to “the hostile relationship” with the U.S., issuing a New Year’s message that highlighted the reclusive country’s attempt to adjust the focus when it re-engages in the six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

In an editorial carried out by its major state media outlets, N. Korea said that its consistent stand was stand was “to establish a lasting peace system on the Korean peninsular and make it nuclear-free through dialogue and negotiations.”
The six party format began in 2003 and include the two Korea, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. Washington and its allies have provided N. Korea with food aid and other assistance while offering incentives like security guarantees, normalized ties and a peace treaty.
After disruption of talks following a missile test by N. Korea in April 2009 which led to a swift UN condemnation, the following month N. Korea conducted its second nuclear test.
The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a formal peace treaty, leaving the peninsula technically in a state of war. North Korea says it has built nuclear weapons as a deterrent to a U.S. invasion, although Washington has said it has no intention to attack.
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