DPRK vows to end denuclearization talks

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) pledged Wednesday to end any efforts on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, the official news agency KCNA reported.

The move came hours after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution condemning its rocket launch in December.

The six-party talks and the September 19 joint statement of 2005 "were rendered null and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was put to an end" due to US hostility, the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the KCNA.

There will be no more discussions on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the future, but the country is open to talks on peace and security, according to the statement.

The DPRK also pledged to "take physical actions to strengthen self-defense military capabilities including nuclear deterrence."

Hours earlier, the 15 members of the UN Security Council unanimously approved the Resolution 2087 which requires the DPRK to comply with all relevant resolutions approved by the Security Council and not to use the ballistic missile technology for any launch.

It also reiterated to seek a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the issues concerned and advocated the renewal of the six-party talks over the denuclearization issue on the Korean Peninsula.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Li Baodong said the resolution is "an outcome of many rounds of consultations by all parties concerned" and is "generally balanced."

"The resolution ... not only shows the stance of the international community on the DPRK's satellite launch, but also delivers some positive information, including calling for a peaceful solution to the (Korean) Peninsula issue through dialogue and negotiation as well as the resumption of the six-party talks," Li said.

Li added that China holds a "clear and consistent" stance on the DPRK's satellite launch, and that the Security Council's response should be "prudent and moderate," be conducive to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, and help avoid the progressive escalation of tensions.

On December 12 last year, the KCNA confirmed a Unha-3 rocket carrying the second version of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite blasted off from the Sohae Space Center at 9:49 am local time (0049 GMT).

The satellite entered its preset orbit 9 minutes and 27 seconds after the lift-off, the news agency said.