North Korea: Nukes Are 'Essential Deterrence' Against US Threat

North Korea dismissed the possibility of a nuclear disarmament deal, arguing its nuclear weapons are its main deterrence against U.S. aggression.

In a statement aired by state news agency KCNA, the Foreign Ministry says North Korea is “not interested in dialogue on unilaterally freezing its nuclear program.”

Referring to itself as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the statement continues, “The DPRK’s nuclear deterrence potential is a necessary means for defending its sovereignty and vital interests amid conditions of nuclear threat from the United States, which has been conducting hostile policy toward Pyongyang for over half a century.”

The ministry also asserted, “The DPRK is the nuclear weapons state both in name and reality.”

The ministry said its statement was in response to attempts by the United States to “link signing an agreement with Iran with Pyongyang’s nuclear program.”

Earlier this month world powers including Iran agreed to a deal that curbed Tehran's nuclear capacity, in exchange for sanctions relief. While Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is entirely civilian in nature, North Korea makes clear it has developed nuclear weapons to deter any future U.S. or South Korean invasion.

North Korea said it conducted its first successful nuclear weapons test in 2006, and since 2009 has widely been considered a nuclear power.

Since the Iran deal, U.S. pressure has mounted for a similar agreement with North Korea. However, the foreign ministry said, “It is not logical to compare our situation with the Iranian nuclear agreement, because we are always subjected to provocative U.S. military hostilities, including massive joint military exercises and a grave nuclear threat.”

“The DPRK remains unchanged in the mission of its nuclear force as long as the United States continues pursuing its hostile policy,” the ministry added.

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