N. Korea's hard stance could widen divisions on U.S. policy [View All]

WASHINGTON — North Korea's harsh new refusal Wednesday to give up its nuclear bomb-making program without a U.S. promise never to invade increases pressure on a divided Bush administration to agree on a North Korea policy, U.S. officials say.

North Korea's refusal is not new, but it comes as the United States has begun to make overtures before talks this month. North Korea signaled it was not softening its position. "It is clear that as long as the U.S. insists on its hostile policy toward (North Korea), the latter will not abandon its nuclear deterrent force," an unnamed North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said in comments carried Wednesday by Pyongyang's official news agency.

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Pentagon officials, as well as highly placed members of Vice President Cheney's staff, oppose any concessions to North Korea unless the regime agrees to end its nuclear program.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-08-13-nkorea-usat_x.htm