North Korea says hostile US policy unchanged, vows to strengthen nuclear force

North Korea's FM spokesperson says nukes an 'absolute guarantee for defending' country's sovereignty

North Korea said on Monday the United States' hostile policy remained unchanged and vowed to continue strengthening its ​nuclear force, rejecting repeated US calls for its denuclearisation.

In a statement carried by state ​media KCNA, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Washington of maintaining a confrontational ⁠stance through its commitment to the "complete denuclearisation" of North Korea, criticism of the country's human ​rights record and planned joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan.

"The Trump administration has thus ​fully reconfirmed its invariable hostile policy to wantonly violate the sovereignty, political system and security interests of the DPRK," the spokesperson said, using the initials of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of ​Korea.

The spokesperson said North Korea's nuclear weapons were "an absolute guarantee for defending its sovereignty" and ​that its nuclear status would not be weakened by repeated U.S. denuclearisation demands.

The spokesperson also said expecting any ‌easing ⁠of regional tensions was "pointless".

Read: North Korea condemns US arms sale to South Korea, vows strong response

There is likewise "no change" in North Korea's policy toward the US, the official said.

The statement came after US President Donald Trump this month ordered a major scaling back of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises between the United States and South Korea.

Trump cited his "very ​good relationship" with North ​Korean leader Kim Jong ⁠Un and said the drills were costly and sent an unnecessarily hostile signal to Pyongyang.

Trump has been seeking a new summit with the ​North Korean leader. The two met three times in 2018 and ​2019.

Despite the ⁠drills reduction, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader's sister, said this month the exercises remained provocative and aggressive even if their scale and duration were reduced.

Separately, the US, South Korea and Japan are ⁠due ​to hold the Freedom Edge exercise, which is intended to improve ​coordination against nuclear and missile threats, from September 7 to 11, according to Seoul's military. North Korea has repeatedly ​denounced the trilateral drill as a threat to regional security.