North Korea vows not to negotiate its nuclear weapons program 주중 북한 대사 ″일

In the wake of an international deal on Iran′s nuclear program， countries participating in multinational efforts to denuclearize North Korea have expressed hopes for a similar resolution. But Pyongyang dashed those hopes earlier today， referring to itself as a nuclear weapons state. Choi You－sun reports. At a press conference for foreign journalists， North Korean ambassador to China Ji Jae－ryong made it clear his country will not return to multilateral negotiations on its nuclear weapons program. ″We do not have any interest at all in dialogue on unilaterally freezing or giving up our nukes.″ The so－called six－party talks to curb the North′s nuclear ambitions involving the two Koreas， the U.S.， China， Japan and Russia have been stalled since early 2009. In the wake of the deal struck by the U.S. and five world powers on curbing Iran′s nuclear program， the six－party nations have been seeking a similar agreement with the North. Pyongyang， however， sees things differently. ″The situation of the Democratic People′s Republic of Korea is totally different from Iran. We are a nuclear state， both in name and reality.″ The North Korean diplomat defended Pyongyang′s nuclear deterrent as a means of protecting itself from Washington′s hostile policies. He also criticized the U.S. and South Korea for their annual military drills， saying the exercises are part of Washington′s plan to bolster its so－called ″pivot to Asia″ policy by maintaining tensions between the two Koreas. While an official in Seoul has suggested North Korea may be trying to mislead its longtime ally China about its nuclear intentions， South Korea′s top nuclear negotiator， who visited China recently， warned the North of the consequences it would have to face if it doesn′t change its current course. Stressing the international community will respond firmly to the North′s provocations， the envoy said the regime is at a crossroads between... completion of its nuclear arms development and denuclearization through dialogue. Choi You－sun， Arirang News.