A U.S. expert on Asian affairs says North Korea has not yet disclosed its nuclear activities because it wants recognition as a nuclear power.

Gordon Flake, who heads the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, made the remarks at a seminar to mark the anniversary of a six-way denuclearization agreement reached February 13th last year. The seminar was hosted by the Heritage Foundation in Washington.

Flake said North Korea appears unwilling to completely and permanently scrap its nuclear program due to domestic concerns.

He added that the North is not prepared to give up its nuclear ambitions, noting that grand ceremonies were held on the anniversary of that country's nuclear tests.

He added that the North's Korean Central News Agency has reported only that Pyongyang has temporarily halted production of nuclear weapons.