North Korea snubs Quad's call for denuclearization

A scene from the 9th Congress of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea. [Photo by Yonhap]

SEOUL, May 28 (AJP) - North Korea said Thursday it will "never give up its nuclear weapons," denouncing a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. earlier this week that called for the North's complete denuclearization.

In a statement carried by the state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the country's Foreign Ministry said the denuclearization of North Korea will "never happen."

North Korea's defiant stance on its nuclear arsenal came after the four countries, members of the U.S.-led multilateral security grouping collectively known as the Quad, reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea after a meeting in New Delhi earlier this week.

The spokesperson also condemned the Quad for what it called its "hostile policy" toward North Korea and other countries in the region, urging it to stop pursuing confrontations that undermine regional peace and stability.