Wishful Thinking? N Korea Claims US Recognizes Pyongyang as Nuclear State

The United States has recognized North Korea as a nuclear power, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party alleged. Rodong Sinmun provided no explanation as to what prompted it to arrive at such a conclusion, contradictory to Washington's official stance.

Pyongyang's nuclear program, launched in 1950s, culminated in three nuclear tests, carried out in 2006, 2009 and 2013. The country is believed to have a nuclear weapon but lacks technology to miniaturize it and mount on a ballistic missile.

The latest North Korean editorial emphasized that the country possess nuclear weapons irrespective whether other nations recognize it or not.

"The US compelled the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) to acquire nuclear capability for its self-defense," Rodong Sinmun noted, as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.

North Korea de facto declared its new status as a nuclear power in 2005 and has since tried to make other countries accept this development. However, the US and some other nations, including South Korea and Japan, have always refused.

North Korea demanded that it be recognized as a nuclear weapons state, will missiles be launched next?

— Richard Engel (@RichardEngel) 23 апреля 2013

In 2002, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an international agreement which recognizes five countries as nuclear weapon states, namely China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.