N Korea boosts nuke arsenal

2005-03-22 11:54

Seoul - North Korea claims it has bolstered its nuclear arsenal to prevent the alleged threat of an invasion even as Washington's top diplomat says that time is running out for the communist government to return to international disarmament talks.

"We have taken a serious measure by increasing nuclear arms arsenal in preparation for any invasion by enemies," the North's Korean Central Broadcasting Station said in a commentary, according to a report late on Monday by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The commentary also said that continuing joint United States-South Korean military exercises were "preparation for war against us."

The North has frequently claimed it would increase its nuclear deterrent in response to the perceived threat of invasion by the United States, but the Monday announcement appeared to be the first time Pyongyang has claimed actually to have done so.

US denies wanting to attack

The United States has repeatedly denied it intends to attack North Korea.

Last month, the North's government said for the first time that it had nuclear weapons and would indefinitely boycott the six-nation talks that began in 2003 to resolve the crisis.

Monday's new claim came after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left the region following visits to Japan, South Korea and China to seek a way to convince the North to return to stalled six-nation disarmament talks, which also include Russia.

On Monday, she said in Beijing that Washington would "have to look at other options" if the North doesn't return to the talks. She didn't elaborate on the exact details, but they would likely include seeking sanctions on North Korea through the UN Security Council. "Obviously everyone is aware that there are other options in the international system," Rice said.

At a Sunday news conference in Seoul, Rice said the nuclear standoff with North Korea "cannot go on forever."

The nuclear crisis erupted in 2002 after US officials said North Korea admitted to having a secret uranium enrichment programme. Later that year, it reactivated nuclear facilities and kicked out international inspectors. - AP

- SAPA