North Korea on Saturday denounced Washington's recent appointment of "envoy for the human rights issue of North Korea," saying the move would obstruct the six-party talks aimed at solving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

In a signed commentary, Rodong Sinmun, a leading North Korean newspaper, called the appointment "a very disturbing act" for efforts to solve the nuclear issue and "an act of throwing a hurdle in the way of the six-party talks."

Last week, US President George W. Bush appointed his former presidential aide Jay Lefkowitz as the envoy to monitor human records in North Korea.

"The appointment proves that what the US had said before its dialogue partner does not agree with what it has done later," the commentary said.

"The US seems not interested in the dialogue and the settlement of the nuclear issue, but more keen on standing in confrontation with North Korea and bringing about a 'regime change' in it," it added.

"If the US continues in this way, it will force North Korea to change its mind," warned the commentary, urging Washington to call off the post of the envoy and abandon its ambition to overthrow the North Korean government immediately.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2005)