U.S. Getting Angry with N.Korea

The U.S. government is apparently getting angry with North Korea. Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. say the White House and the State Department are irate at North Korea's refusal to talk following the launch of its long-range rocket, as well as its expulsion of International Atomic Energy Agency monitors and a State Department representative.

During a recent meeting, the U.S. National Security Council Principals Committee, led by White House National Security Adviser James Jones, resulted in a U.S. decision not to pursue direct talks with North Korea as long as the communist country remains uncooperative, diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. said. Instead, the committee decided to strengthen cooperation with South Korea and Japan and win the help of China to resume the stalled six-country talks.

The committee also decided to continue imposing sanctions mentioned in the statement issued by the UN Security Council after the North's rocket launch. It feels North Korea's continued rejection of talks and disregard of the UN decision cannot be condoned. State Department Spokesman Robert Wood said last Thursday, "They [North Korea] will have to deal with the consequences of that decision."

Translation: We reached out to you and you rebuffed our overtures making our administration look bad. That we CAN"T accept!