North Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., Han Song-ryol, has downplayed a recent U.S. offer of "surprising rewards" in return for Pyongyang's abandonment of its nuclear ambitions.

In a telephone interview with Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency Tuesday, Han said he is "not interested" in the offer made by U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

During a stop in Seoul last Friday, Rice said that North Korea would be surprised to find how much might become possible if it suspends nuclear activities, accepts international inspections and genuinely dismantles its nuclear programs.

Han reiterated that Pyongyang's nuclear dismantlement and Washington's provision of a security guarantee and economic aid to the North should be carried out simultaneously. He stressed there would be no unilateral disarmament on the part of North Korea, considering the half-century of mutual distrust between Pyongyang and Washington.

Asked about whether North Korea would follow the example of Libya, which agreed to give up its nuclear arms program, Han said that Libya's case is different from that of his country. Han said he understands that the U.S. secretly negotiated for 8 months with Libya on its nuclear issue, while no direct negotiations have taken place with the North.