North Korea says it added to nuclear arsenal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-22 08:37

North Korea said Monday it has increased its nuclear arsenal to help prevent a U.S. attack on the country, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

"We've taken serious steps of boosting our nuclear arsenal and we are also prepared to mobilize all of our military force against any provocative moves by the enemy," Yonhap quoted the North's state KCNA news agency as saying.

It was the first time that Pyongyang actually said it had boosted its nuclear weapons programs -- it had said last week it may increase its arsenal to maintain a balance of power in East Asia and help prevent a U.S. attack.

Nuclear reactor site in Yongbyon, North Korea. North Korea said it had increased its nuclear arsenal in preparation for a preemptive invasion by the United States, the Yonhap news agency quoted Pyongyang's state media as saying.[AFP]

The new statement came as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday Washington and its Asian allies would have to find new ways of dealing with North Korea if it continued to shun nuclear disarmament talks.

Rice, in China at the conclusion of a sweep through Asia designed to revive the negotiations, also gave her strongest hint to date that the United States was prepared to report North Korea to the United Nations should the talks fail.

"Obviously, everyone is aware of the other options in the international system," Rice told a news conference in Beijing.

North Korea officially declared last month for the first time that it had nuclear weapons. It said it needed them to counter what it called Washington's hostile policies.

Proliferation experts said the North may have one or two nuclear weapons, and could possibly have eight or more.

When Pyongyang made its Feb. 10 declaration it also said it was pulling out of the disarmament talks. It later hinted at a return to the negotiating table if the conditions were right and the United States showed what it called "sincerity."

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
China's ruling Party opening up to the world         Rice brings warm front to ice rink         Trade chief: Exports prices to stabilize         Beijing Olympic venues shape up for 2008         Sino-Australian FTA study nears end         Subsidence brings down Yangtze Delta	Palestinians regain second West Bank city       Israel, Palestinians deadlock on handover       Iraq, Jordan pull envoys in security spat       Pope silent in Palm Sunday mass appearance       Afghan parliamentary vote set for September       Annan unveils sweeping UN reforms