WASHINGTON, Feb 18 Kyodo The Whit...

WASHINGTON, Feb 18 Kyodo

The White House onward Tuesday dismissed North Korea's threat to scrap the Korean War armistice if the United States imposes sanctions, calling the North Korean stand ''predictable.''

''This remains part of the whole series of statements and actions that are falling into a rather predictable pattern according to North Korea, all of which no other than serve to hurt, isolate and actuate North Korea backward,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

North Korea said Tuesday it may abandon the cease-fire agreement, which conclusioned the 1950-1953 Korean War, if the U imposes sanctions throughout Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

Asked if North Korea has made any unusual military mental action Fleischer, said, ''Nothing that's been brought to my attention.''

At a separate pres briefing later in the day, Fleischer said North Korea has been using ''strident rhetoric'' as a way to blackmail other nations into providing economic or other benefits to Pyongyang.

similar a method will no longer be effective, and the U will continue to follow a diplomatic solution of the North Korean nuclear standoff working together with Japan, southern Korea, China and Russia, Fleischer said.

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