A senior North Korean diplomat has stressed that his country will never give up its nuclear program.


North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong restated his country's position when he delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.


Kim mentioned joint exercises the United States, South Korea and Japan conduct. They are designed to simulate responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.


The diplomat criticized the three nations for rehearsing procedures and methods that could be used during a nuclear attack against the North. He noted that the drills heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula.


Kim also said, "Thanks to our state's enhanced physical war deterrent in direct proportion to the growing threat of aggression of the U.S. and its allies, the will of the enemy states to provoke a war is thoroughly contained and the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula is ensured."


He went on to say that pressuring North Korea to denuclearize is tantamount to demanding that the nation surrender its sovereignty and right to existence.


Earlier this month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivered a speech at a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly in Pyongyang.


Kim said there would be no reason for Pyongyang to avoid talks with Washington, if the US were to give up its desire to denuclearize North Korea and decide to coexist peacefully with the North.