North Korea says it will never give up nuclear-armed status

North Korea has asserted that it can never lose its status as a nuclear-armed state, responding sharply to the United States.

The statement comes as Washington is said to be turning its focus toward North Korea after Iran, while South Korea, the US and Japan continue to press Pyongyang to scale back its nuclear arsenal.

During a bilateral nuclear consultative group meeting held on June 11, South Korea and the United States again reiterated their demand that North Korea reduce its nuclear weapons.

North Korea’s position was carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The statement argued that discussing reductions of the other side’s nuclear weapons while being a party to conflict is unreasonable, and insisted that external pressure cannot alter North Korea’s nuclear status.