SEOUL, May 13 (UPI) -- North Korea declared Monday that its 1992 agreement with South Korea to keep their peninsula free of nuclear weapons "nullified" due to what it called U.S. nuclear threats.
"The joint declaration on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula has been nullified because of a sinister and hostile U.S. policy against (North) Korea," the North's state-run Central News Agency said.
It said the North had adopted the nuclear-free declaration with South Korea and had worked hard to implement it, but its efforts had been hampered by Washington.
"The United States ... has persistently pursued its strategic aim, going against the desire of the Korean nation, finally torpedoing the process of denuclearization on the peninsula," it said.
KCNA also said North Korea was determined to arm itself with "a physical means of deterrence" to cope with U.S. moves to stifle the Pyongyang regime.
"A physical means" was widely considered in South Korea to be possession of weapons of mass destruction.
The two Koreas concluded the six-point joint declaration on Dec. 31, 1991, that went into effect in February 1992, under which they pledged not to test, produce, receive, store, deploy or use nuclear arms.
During high-level talks late last month, South Korea called for North Korea's promise to dismantle any nuclear weapons and facilities and fully abide by their anti-nuclear agreement, but failed to win any pledge.
The inter-Korean agreement designed to eliminate the danger of nuclear war on the divided peninsula was the last remaining legal obligation under which North Korea was banned from seeking atomic weapons.
Last January, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a global accord to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The move followed Pyongyang's announcement of its resumption of operations at its nuclear facilities, the removal of International Atomic Energy Agency seals and the expulsion of IAEA inspectors.
The North rattled the world community again last month when it claimed to have nuclear weapons and threatened to use or export them unless the United States accepts its demand of a security guarantee and economic aid.
The North's Monday night declaration came at a time South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun was visiting the United States for a summit with President George W. Bush to discuss North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Shortly before the North's statement, Roh in New York made clear that North Korea should fundamentally dismantle any of its nuclear weapons and materials, hardening his tone against Pyongyang's stance.
"For world peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, North Korea must give up its nuclear development programs and dismantle whatever nuclear materials it possesses," Roh told a group of South Korean residents.
Roh, who took office in February, has vowed to push for unconditional reconciliation with North Korea. Analysts here said Wednesday's Roh-Bush meeting would be crucial to forging their common stance toward North Korea.
