Advertisement

North Korea Rejects Iran-Style Nuclear Deal

North Korea Rejects Iran-Style Nuclear Deal

North Korea says it has no interest in negotiating a nuclear deal similar to the one reached with Iran in exchange for sanctions relief.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country's nuclear deterrent is "not a plaything to be put on the negotiating table" and is essential to counter threats from the United States.

He said North Korea has no intention of joining any talks to discuss the issue of freezing or dismantling its nuclear programme unilaterally as long as the US maintains hostile policies toward it.

The statement, carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, was Pyongyang's first official response to the Iranian nuclear deal.

International nuclear talks on North Korea's weapons programme have been stalled since 2009.

In March, the secretive state's UK ambassador told Sky News Kim Jong-Un had nuclear weapons and was prepared to use them if his country came under threat.

Hyon Hak Bong told Sky: "If a sparkle of a fire is made on the Korean peninsula, it will lead to a nuclear war."

North Korea's latest statement on nuclear weapons came as photos emerged of Kim Jong-Un voting in the first elections since he came to power in 2011 .

Voters were reportedly "singing and dancing" as they cast their ballots in the poll, which saw a reported 99.97% turnout.