N. Korea says will continue nuke weapons program

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Wednesday that it will continue to expand its nuclear weapons program to boost its "self-defense deterrent" and fend off a nuclear threat from the United States.

The North's fresh pledge comes as the United States and the international community has been turning up the heat on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program and stop nuclear provocations.

"Our nuclear (program) is self-defense deterrence that needs to be maintained and expanded further to guard against nuclear threats from the U.S.," the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, said in a commentary.

"We did not possess the nuclear program to win recognition of anybody nor is our nuclear deterrence a means of negotiations for dialogue or fence-mending," said the newspaper.

As long as the United States carries out its annual joint military exercises with South Korea, North Korea will continue its nuclear and missile tests, it said.

"It's not too late for U.S. policymakers to make a right choice. It will be helpful for the U.S. national interests and the security of its mainland if the country gives up hostile policies toward (Pyongyang) and establish a new policy line," the newspaper said.

In a separate article, the Rodong Sinmun criticized South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se's recent warnings against North Korea's nuclear weapons development. Yun said in recent speeches in Seoul and the United States that Pyongyang will be strongly punished for its further nuclear activities.

"Yun's remarks are only a ridiculous act...It only shows that the evil plan of (President) Park Geun-hye's group, which tries to hurt its fellow people on the back of foreign forces, is entering into a dangerous stage." it said.

North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. The six-nation talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan, which are aimed at ending the North's nuclear program, have been dormant since late 2008.

pbr@yna.co.kr

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