North Korea says that the best way to resolve its nuclear standoff would be to replace a 51-year-old armistice with a peace treaty ending the Korean War.

The remarks were made by Han Song-ryol, North Korea's deputy representative to the United Nations, in a rare interview with USA Today Thursday.

He said his country would have to hold onto nuclear weapons unless "all the countries with troops on the Korean peninsula" reach a permanent peace.

The U.S. daily said Han's comments appeared to reflect North Korea's growing frustration with slow-moving six-nation nuclear disarmament talks in Beijing.

The report assessed that such a peace accord would be signed by the two Koreas and the United States. However, it is unclear whether Pyongyang wants all the three countries to sign one treaty or have two treaties signed between the two Koreas and another signed between the North and the U.S.