North Korea’s Ambassador to the United Nations has denied that his country has a uranium enrichment program.

A U.N. official said Pak Gil-yon made the denial Wednesday in a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York.

Pak also stressed that his country did not and will not engage in nuclear collaboration with Syria.

His comments have drawn attention as they come shortly after U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill urged the North to declare its nukes as soon as possible.

Pak also reportedly told the U.N. chief about talks in Geneva last week between Hill and his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-kwan on Pyongyang’s stalled nuclear dismantlement. Pak told Ban the two countries will continue technical discussions on the matter.

Pak also stressed the need to improve inter-Korean relations and cooperation. He asked the U.N. chief to maintain a keen interest on affairs concerning the Korean Peninsula.