SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has warned it could revive a state policy aimed at strengthening its nuclear arsenal if the United States does not lift economic sanctions against the country.
The statement released by the Foreign Ministry Friday evening came amid a sense of unease between Washington and Seoul over the use of sanctions and pressure to get the North to relinquish its nuclear program.
The ministry says the North could bring back its "pyongjin" policy of simultaneously advancing its nuclear force and economic development if the United States doesn't change its stance.
South Korea last month walked back on a proposal to lift some of its unilateral sanctions against North Korea to create diplomatic space following President Donald Trump's blunt retort that Seoul could "do nothing" without Washington's approval.
