N. Korea Wants 'Peaceful' Nukes

A couple dressed hustle past the Chicago police department's mounted patrol, as members of Occupy Chicago march through the street Saturday, May 19 2012, in Chicago. Security has been high throughout the city in preparation for the NATO summit, where delegations from about 60 countries will discuss the war in Afghanistan and European missile defense. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) / Charles Rex Arbogast

North Korea's envoy to disarmament talks said Thursday that Pyongyang insists on retaining the right to "peaceful nuclear activities" — a condition that other delegates say has deadlocked the talks.

"We are for denuclearizing, but we also want to possess the right to peaceful nuclear activities. Every country in the world has the right to peaceful nuclear activities," said Kim Kye Gwan, a North Korean vice foreign minister.

"As you know, only one country is opposing that," Kim said, apparently referring to the United States.

Kim spoke briefly to reporters outside the North Korean Embassy in Beijing after a 10th day of talks.

Other delegates say North Korea's refusal to commit to giving up all nuclear programs — even those that it says are for peaceful use — has brought the six-nation talks to a standstill.

Tuesday, top envoys from all six countries on Tuesday discussed a draft of a proposed statement of principles as they struggled with North Korea's demands for what it should receive if it disarms.

Kim said North Korea won't give up its nuclear weapons until the alleged U.S. nuclear threat against the communist nation is eliminated, the first public comments from the North after eight days of negotiations.

"There certainly remain differences in opinions" between the North and the United States, Kim said after a day of meetings between head delegates at the six-nation talks.

"Our decision is to give up nuclear weapons and programs related to nuclear weapons if the United States removes its nuclear threat against us and when trust is built," Kim said outside the North Korean Embassy in Beijing.

The North has alleged the United States has nuclear weapons in South Korea, a claim both Seoul and Washington deny. However, the North could also be referring to other American forces across the region, where U.S. forces have maintained a strong presence since the end of World War II.

Despite the disagreements, Kim said the North still looked to "narrow these differences as much as we can to present results."