North Korean FM addresses UN General Assembly, calls out U.S. policy 北 외무상 &qu

Our top story this morning... North Korea′s foreign minister claims his country′s nuclear weapons program was developed as a response to Washington′s hostile and stifling strategy against the North. The minister was making Pyongyang′s case during a very rare speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. Kim Hyun-bin reports. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong used his speech to the UN General Assembly on Saturday... to shift the blame away from his regime... and onto the United States for the issues that has it at odds with the international community. Over North Korea′s nuclear program,... Ri said his regime would disarm only once the U.S. changes its policy toward the North. "The nuclear issue can be resolved only if and when the threat to our sovereignty and our right to life is removed, which requires the United States to end its hostile policy toward the DPRK." Over the North′s abysmal human rights record,... Ri said the regime is willing to talk. He said the North expressed a desire to take part last week in an unprecedented high-level meeting on the issue which was hosted by the U.S.,... but the U.S. rejected the request. "The DPRK is willing to engage in dialogue on the human rights issue. We are willing to cooperate, but it has to be on equal footing with other countries that are not hostile to us." During a 20 minute meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines,... Ri handed over a handwritten letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The United Nations did not give out any details about what was said,... but after receiving it, Ban asked the North for permission and support... in having UN organizations help out the North Korean people. Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News.