Pyongyang blames 'glasnost' for fall of Soviet socialism

SEOUL -- North Korea, in what appeared to be a rebuff of a senior visiting U.S. official, ruled out political or economic reforms. The official North Korean Central News Agency released a commentary attributing the collapse of the Soviet empire to its acceptance of "non-socialist elements" -- greater economic and political openness.

"Glasnost and pluralism called for by imperialists and renegades of socialism should never be allowed," the article said. "Not the slightest illusion should be harbored about 'reform' and `opening' that invite imperialism."

The article termed U.S. efforts to convince North Korea to open its society as an attempt to send in a "Trojan Horse tasked to destabilize socialism." Last week, William Perry, President Bill Clinton's envoy, visited Pyongyang and held talks with senior officials on bilateral relations and ending North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs.

North Korea and South Korea representatives will meet in Beijing in several days in an attempt to improve their relations, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The Seoul-based Dong-A Ilbo, quoting South Korean officials, said the two countries will hold a ministerial meeting in Beijing after a series of unofficial discussions held in the Chinese capital.

The newspaper did not give an exact date for the talks.

Over the weekend, North Korea criticized an update of a security cooperation agreement between South Korea and the United States. A four-way meeting in April failed to secure any progress as North Korea insisted that U.S. troops leave South Korea.