DPRK wants sanctions eased to restart talks with U.S: reports

A man looks at a packet of "Taeha" brand snacks produced by the Unha Taesong Foodstuff Factory at a shop in Pyongyang, DPRK, April 6, 2021. /CFP

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) wants international sanctions banning its metal exports and imports of refined fuel and other necessities lifted in order to restart denuclearization talks with the United States, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing Republic of Korea (ROK) lawmakers.

The DPRK has also demanded the easing of sanctions on its imports of luxury goods to be able to bring in fine liquors and suits, the lawmakers said after being briefed by the main intelligence agency of the ROK, according to the Reuters reports.

The briefing came a week after the DPRK and the ROK

restored hotlines

the former suspended a year ago.

The ROK legislators said the DPRK was in need of some 1 million tons of rice, as its economy was battered by the coronavirus pandemic and bad weather last year.

The UN Security Council has issued a wide range of sanctions against the DPRK, including entities and individuals in the country, for pursuing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in defiance of UN resolutions.

The United States, Japan as well as the ROK have also issued sanctions on the DPRK, but they are not binding on other countries.

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(With input from Reuters)