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North Korea not interested in unilaterally freezing its nuclear program — foreign ministry

The foreign ministry criticized Washington’s "attempts to link signing an agreement with Iran with Pyongyang’s nuclear program"

PYONGYANG, July 21. /TASS/. North Korea’s nuclear potential serves as a necessary means of defending the country’s sovereignty in the conditions of US hostile policy, the republic’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"The nuclear program cannot become a bargaining chip at the negotiations table," the ministry added noting that North Korea "is not interested in dialogue on unilaterally freezing its nuclear program." The foreign ministry criticized Washington’s "attempts to link signing an agreement with Iran [on Tehran’s nuclear program] with Pyongyang’s nuclear program."

"North Korea’s nuclear deterrence potential is a necessary means for defending its sovereignty and vital interests in the conditions of nuclear threat from the US which has been conducting hostile policy toward Pyongyang for over half a century," the statement said. The foreign ministry also noted that North Korea "is one of the countries with nuclear weapons and, as such, has its own interests.".