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North Korea accused the United States Monday of undermining the prospect of improved relations with South Korea and the revival of six-party talks on its nuclear program by escalating “hostile” military activity and policies.

Pyongyang’s deputy UN ambassador Ri Tong Il said at a news conference that the North’s nuclear weapons are not a “political bargaining chip.”

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He warned that as long as the U.S. continues “nuclear blackmails” North Korea will continue to take “additional measures” — which he refused to disclose — “in order to demonstrate the power of the self-defensive nuclear deterrent.”

Ri contrasted the welcome the international community gave to February’s high-level talks between North Korea and South Korea that led to a revival of family reunions and “great expectations of the entire Korean nation toward wide-open dialogue, easing of tensions, … reconciliation and unification of the country” with the U.S. refusal to halt military drills with South Korea as Pyongyang requested.