NORTH KOREA'S NOTES

North Koreans pay their respects at the statues of former North Korean
 leaders Kim Il Sung (L) and Kim Jong Il

NORTH KOREA has broken silence on the diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul, saying that it is 'driving' the ''peace offensive'' and-

Rejecting suggestions than sanctions forced it to the negotiating table.

The commentary from the state-run KCNA news agency came with a rapid rapproachement on the  Korean peninsula under way, after a period of heightened tensions stoked by missile and nuclear threats.

In order to prepare an inter-Korean summit scheduled for April, South Korea on Wednesday proposed holding high-level talks with the North next week to discuss details including the summit's dates and agenda.

But as diplomats scurry to arrange the North-South Talks -and a mooted face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un- the North's silence had raised concerns over its intentions.

The KCNA  commentary since Thursday did not directly mention the summits but noted the ''dramatic atmosphere'' for reconciliation with the South and a ''sign of change'' with the US.

It said Pyongyang overtures came from a position of strength, not from weakness, even as it confronts intense international pressure as well as biting economic sanctions over its-

Nuclear weapons programme.

''The dialogue peace offensive of the DPRK is an expression of self-confidence as it has acquired everything it desires,'' it said, using the North's official name.

''It also slammed hawks in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for questioning the sincerity and motivation behind North's willingness to step back from the brink.

''Such rubbish as 'result of sanction and pressure' spread by hostile forces is just as meaningless as a  dog barking at the moon.'' it said, urging ''prudence'' for all parties involved.

''It is really an expression of ''small mindedness'' for the ''riff-raffs'' to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the-

Inner thoughts of the other side and are seated at a negotiating table,'' it said in a typically colorful language.

[Agencies].