North Korea has rejected the US demand to abandon its nuclear program first, urging the Bush administration to change its policy towards the North.

The Rodong Shinmun, the official newspaper of the North's Workers' Party, in an editorial called the demand "an utterly unfair unilateral request" aimed at Pyongyang's disarmament.

The daily said the North cannot let go of its arms given the continued U.S. attempt to overthrow the regime, but also stressed that Pyongyang neither opposes nor has abandoned the six-way nuclear talks.