PYONGYANG, North Korea, June 9 (UPI) -- North Korea, for the first time, has admitted developing a nuclear weapons arsenal, saying its motivation is the United States' "hostile policy" against it.
The governmental news agency KCNA said Pyongyang's wish to have a nuclear deterrent is not motivated by a desire to blackmail anybody but to reduce conventional weaponry "and thus convert human resources and funnel money into economic construction."
The government said it is willing to stop development of nuclear weapons only if the United States gives "gives up its hostile policy toward North Korea."
The United States, Japan and South Korea have said they will not tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea, with Washington and Tokyo promising "tougher measures" against the isolated communist state if it pushes ahead with its nuclear agenda.
Prior to Sunday's announcement, North Korea had stopped short of officially declaring it had a nuclear weapons program.
