North Korea to boycott nuclear talks

Published on Tuesday 14 April 2009 14:48

NORTH Korea said today it would boycott six-party talks in protest at the United Nations Security Council statement condemning the country's rocket launch.

The announcement came in a statement released by the country's foreign ministry, which also said North Korea would bolster its nuclear deterrent and continue to develop its space programme.

It was the country's first reaction to the security council's unanimous condemnation last night over the April 5 rocket launch.

The council demanded an end to missile tests and said it would expand sanctions against the reclusive communist nation.

North Korea's foreign ministry said it "resolutely condemns" the action by the United Nations, which it said "rampantly" infringed upon the country's sovereignty and "severely debases" the people's dignity.

"We have no choice but to further strengthen our nuclear deterrent to cope with additional military threats by hostile forces," the statement said.

The statement also said that "six-party talks that we are taking part in are not necessary any more".

Those negotiations, which also involve China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the US, began in 2003 and have been aimed at achieving North Korea's denuclearisation.

The North also said it would restore nuclear facilities it has been disabling in line with an international disarmament-for-aid deal negotiated under the six-party process and resume operating them.

Pyongyang maintains it sent a satellite into space but critics say it was testing long-range missile technology.

The security council's statement, agreed on by all 15 members and read at a formal meeting of the United Nations' most powerful body, said the launch broke a council resolution adopted after the North conducted a nuclear test explosion in 2006 that banned any missile tests by the country.

The statement was a weaker response than a UN resolution, which had been sought by Japan and the United States but was opposed by China and Russia. US ambassador Susan Rice insisted the statement was legally binding, just like a resolution – a view backed by Russia – but other diplomats and officials disagreed.

North Korea had threatened last month that any criticism by the security council over the launch would result in the end of the six-party talks.