North Korea will not give up nuclear arsenal if US keeps up 鈥榖lackmail鈥�

Above, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the conference of cell chairpersons of the ruling party in Pyongyang. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

SEOUL: North Korea said Saturday that it will never give up its nuclear weapons as long as the US and its allies continue their 鈥渂lackmail and war drills鈥� at its doorstep.
The North鈥檚 official Korean Central News Agency took the oft-repeated stance as it reviewed the country鈥檚 major nuclear weapons and missile tests this year.
North Korea conducted its most powerful nuclear test to date in September and launched three intercontinental ballistic missiles into the sea in July and November, indicating that it is closer than ever to gaining a nuclear arsenal that could viably target the mainland US.
The aggressive tests have led to more international sanctions and pressure on North Korea amid concerns that the window for stopping or rolling back its nuclear program is closing rapidly. The US and South Korea have maintained that they won鈥檛 negotiate with the North unless it is willing to discuss curbing its nuclear weapons and missile program.
In its report Saturday, KCNA said North Korea had taken steps for 鈥渂olstering the capabilities for self-defense and pre-emptive attacks with nuclear force鈥� in the face of a continued 鈥渘uclear threat and blackmail and war drills鈥� by the US and its 鈥渧assal forces.鈥�
The North often lashes out at the annual military drills between the US and South Korea, which the allies describe as defensive in nature.
KCNA accused President Donald Trump of employing unprecedented hostile policies against North Korea and threatening it with talks of pre-emptive strikes. It described North Korea as an 鈥渦ndeniable new strategic state and nuclear power.鈥�
鈥淒o not expect any change in its policy. Its entity as an invincible power can neither be undermined nor be stamped out,鈥� KCNA said.
鈥淭he DPRK, as a responsible nuclear weapons state, will lead the trend of history to the only road of independence,鈥� it added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People鈥檚 Republic of Korea.