He said North Korea reaffirmed that “the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was an unchanged will and resolution of our military and the people.” To stress the credibility of that statement, the spokesman attributed it to the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, and his son Kim Jong-il, who led North Korea until he died in 2011. He was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un.

North Korea has issued a similar statement in the past. However, in recent months, it had taken a confrontational approach as it protested United Nations sanctions imposed after its rocket launching in December and its nuclear test in February. In those statements, it appeared to have hardened its position, saying that it would never join any talks designed to end its nuclear weapons programs.

The North Korea also made it clear on Sunday that the denuclearization of the peninsula must include the removal of all American nuclear threats in the region. It was in essence reiterating its longstanding position that it would discuss dismantling its nuclear weapons programs with the United States, but only as part of broader nuclear arms reduction talks in the region.

“Whether anyone accepts our proud status as a nuclear power, we will hold fast to it until the denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula is realized and the nuclear threats from the outside is completely terminated,” the North Korean spokesman said.

Washington, however, has demanded that before direct talks, North Korea must first take concrete steps to show its sincerity in giving up its nuclear weapons.