The Democratic People's Republicof Korea (DPRK) warned the United States on Thursday against creating a deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula.

"The United States should know well that its escalated moves to aggravate the situation on the Peninsula will lead it to self-destruction," said a statement released by the foreign ministry before the 50th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, which was signed on July 27, 1953.

Fifty years have passed since the conclusion of the Korean Armistice Agreement, but durable peace have not yet settled on the Korean Peninsula, and the danger of a nuclear war is increasing, the statement said.

The US administration has announced an "arms buildup plan" to equip US forces in South Korea with weapons of the latest types and is now working hard to put into practice a "sea and air blockade" against the DPRK, it said.

The hostile activities by the United States compel the DPRK to build up a strong war deterrent force, the statement said.

The DPRK called upon the United States earlier this week to drop its hostile policy towards the DPRK and hold negotiations based on equality and trust in settlement of the nuclear issue.

The United States claimed on Tuesday it was considering the second round of talks with the DPRK in Beijing.

The United States, the DPRK and China held trilateral talks on the nuclear issue in April.

(China Daily   July 25, 2003)