Reuters reported Friday that North Korea has ruled out negotiations with Washington as long as joint U.S-South Korea military exercises continue.
 
The North also said its nuclear weapons program would remain as a deterrent against the U.S.
 
In an interview with Reuters, North Korean Ambassador to the UN Han Tae-song brushed off the new sanctions the Trump administration has said it is preparing as well as the possibility of North Korea being added to a U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism.
 
He said his country would continue to build-up its self-defense capability, the pivot of which is its nuclear program.
 
China said Thursday that a “dual suspension” proposal to handle North Korea was still the best option, referring to a freeze of the North's nuclear and missile program and a freeze of South Korea-U.S. drills. 
 
Asked about China’s proposal for a freeze, Han said the situation is far from that.
 
Han said the U.S. administrations never accepted halting joint military exercises. He added that if the U.S. accepts, then the North will think about what it does in the future.
 
Regarding inter-Korean dialogue, Han said there won't be negotiations as long as there is a continuous hostile policy by the U.S. and as long as there are continued war games at North Korea's doorstep. 
 
Han also said the North could not consider abandoning its nuclear program because it is a deterrent to cope with the nuclear threat from America.
 
 

[Photo : ]