북한은 미국이 핵개발 계획을 이유로 자국에 대한 압력을 계속할 경우 핵 억제력을 물리적으로 공개할 것이라고 밝혔다고 북한 관영 통신사가 보도했다.

북한 외무성 대변인은 목요일(이하 현지시각) "때가 되면 우리의 핵 억제력을 물리적으로 공개하는 조치를 취할 것이며, 그때가 되면 그러한 국제논의(북한이 핵 억제력을 지니고 있는지 아닌지)는 필요없게 될 것"이라고 말했다고 조선중앙통신은 전했다.

그는 또 "부시 행정부가 우리에 대해 핵개발 계획을 포기하라는 압력을 계속할 경우, 우리는 이에 대한 대응으로써 핵 억제력을 고수하는 방안 외에는 선택의 여지가 없다"고 말했다.

북한의 언론보도를 모니터하고 있는 한국의 연합뉴스는 "이러한 북한측 발표는 미국을 다시 협상 테이블로 불러들이려는 북한의 전략적 일환"이라며 조선중앙통신 보도를 자세히 전했다.


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NK 'ready to unveil N-deterrence'

From CNN Correspondent Sohn Jie-Ae

Friday, October 17, 2003 Posted: 0215 GMT (10:15 AM HKT)

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea is prepared to "physically unveil" its "nuclear deterrence" if the United States continues to press the Communist regime over its nuclear program, according to a report from Pyongyang's official news agency.

"When the time comes, we will move to physically unveil our nuclear deterrence, and, at the same time, the need for such international controversy will not exist," KCNA quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying Thursday.

The spokesman also was quoted as saying that if the Bush administration keeps up its pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, the Pyongyang regime will have "no other choice to but to keep up with nuclear deterrence as a countermeasure."

South Korea's official news agency Yonhap, which monitors North Korean media and carried details of the KCNA report, said the announcement was in line with North Korea's strategy of trying to pressure the United States to return to the negotiating table.

North Korea has repeatedly blamed its need for a nuclear weapons program on what it calls the United States' "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang.

The reclusive state claimed last week it had reprocessed 8,000 fuel rods from its Yongbyon nuclear reactor -- fuel that could be used in nuclear weapons -- to boost its deterrents in response to U.S. threats.

But U.S. officials doubt the claim, saying there was no evidence to confirm the move.

Washington, which has called North Korea part of an "axis of an evil" along with Iran and Iraq, has been pressing for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

However, North Korea says it will not give up its weapons program until it has a guarantee the U.S. will not attack.