国际英语新闻：U.S. counterattacks DPRK charges

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday reiterated its accusation against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying "bellicose rhetoric" by Pyongyang can only increase tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

    Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesman Robert Wood rejected the DPRK's charges that ongoing U.S.-South Korean military exercises amounted to war preparations.

    "These exercises which take place, as you know, annually, are not a threat to the North," Wood said, adding that Pyongyang's "bellicose rhetoric is not helpful, it can only increase tensions in the region."

    On nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula, Wood said: "What we want to see happen is we want to see the North comply with its international obligations with regard to the six-party framework."

    The spokesman also attached importance to the verification of the DPRK's nuclear program in the settlement of nuclear on the Korean Peninsula.

    "What we tried to do with the other parties is to come up with a verification protocol that would allow us to be able to, indeed, measure what the North has submitted and to see whether it meets the requirements of the international community," he said.

    The six-party talks, involving the DPRK, the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia, have been focusing on the settlement of nuclear issues on the Korean peninsular since August2003.