A top North Korean diplomat says his country has no choice but to possess nuclear weapons until the United States scraps what he calls “hostile policies” toward Pyongyang.

North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Pak Gil-yon made the comment during a speech at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.

He said the North continues to seek the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, adding that achieving such a goal depends on changes to Washington’s related policies.

Pak said the U.S. must discard its policy of confrontation if a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is to be established.

Pak, a former ambassador to the U.N., added that his country’s nuclear arsenal is solely aimed at deterring potential nuclear threats and military attacks.

He said his country is not averse to joining responsible international efforts for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.