North Korea vows to strengthen nuclear arms

NEW YORK (AP) — North Korea has vowed to strengthen its nuclear weapons stockpile in order to deter a U.S. and South Korean military buildup in the region.

Speaking to the United Nations today, North Korea’s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Kil Yon said Pyongyang is, however, ready to join nuclear nonproliferation efforts in its capacity as a nuclear weapon state.

North Korea’s nuclear program is of intense concern because of worries the country is building an arsenal of atomic weapons. Pyongyang conducted two nuclear weapons tests in 2006 and 2009, drawing international condemnation and U.N. sanctions.

The U.S. is trying to help restart stalled disarmament negotiations after North Korea walked out of the six-nation talks last year.