North Korean Ambassador gives rare interview

HE Mr Hyun Hak-bong used a Sky News interview to blame US “hostile policy” for tensions on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea saw the upcoming US military exercise with South Korea as a provocation. “It is high time for South Korea to cancel or to stop the military exercises,” he said and called on the international community to intervene. He did not say how North Korea would respond if the exercise went ahead.

He added North Korea would not abolish its nuclear weapons programme, saying: “DPR Korea has no option but to have the nuclear deterrent in order to defend the sovereignty of the country.”