North Korea on Sunday urged the US to approach the fourth round of the six-party talks with a sincere and sound stance. 

"The new round of the six-party talks should be made to contribute to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It is hard to expect the solution to the nuclear issue without active and sincere efforts from the US," the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a signed article.

The article advised the US to abandon its ambition for a "regime change" and to opt for peaceful coexistence with North Korea, so as to make successful progress and settle the issue of denuclearizing the peninsula.

"If the US persistently pressurizes its dialogue partner to unilaterally dismantle its nuclear weapons, the situation will lead to an extreme pitch of tension," the article warned.

The article again explained North Korea's stance on developing nuclear weapons. "It is for self-defense to cope with the increasing danger of nuclear attack from the US, not to aimed at threatening others as they are of peaceful nature," it said.

The article reiterated North Korea's unchangeable stance on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and settling the nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation.

"The US should not be skeptical about such stand of North Korea but show its frank and sincere attitude to fulfill its responsibility and commitments," the article urged.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2005)