SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is warning the U.S. that if Washington doesn't accept its demand for direct talks, Pyongyang (pyuhng-yahng) will go its "own way."
The statement carried by state media appeared to be a threat to enlarge its nuclear arsenal.
It came as a high-level North Korean nuclear negotiator wrapped up a trip to the U.S. where he met with the chief American nuclear negotiator.
The regime said today that "meaningful progress" on a nuclear-free Korean peninsula is possible "if the hostile relations" between the U.S. and North are settled "and confidence is built between them."
North Korea has long called for direct talks with the U.S., and maintains it's compelled to develop atomic bombs to cope with what it calls "U.S. nuclear threats."
The U.S. has said it is willing to sit down if the talks lead to the resumption of the stalled six-nation disarmament negotiations.
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<<APPHOTO NYDB101 (10/30/09)>>
: Ri Gun, right, a senior North Korean negotiator on nuclear issues, leaves the National Committee on American Foreign Policy offices, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, in New York, after a meeting with the chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Sung Kim.
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