A North Korean Foreign Ministry official says that the North will not halt nuclear tests even if the United States suspends its military exercises with South Korea.
 
The official, who introduced himself as Deputy Director Ri Tae-song at the North’s Foreign Ministry, made the remarks on Tuesday to reporters in Beijing before returning home along with Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong.
 
The official said that Washington had already rejected Pyongyang’s offer to stop nuclear tests in exchange for the U.S. suspension of military exercises, adding the North’s offer is no longer on the table.
 
The North’s foreign minister told the Associated Press on Saturday that the North will stop nuclear tests if the U.S. suspends its military drills with the South. However, the North Korean official said that western media reports on Ri’s AP interview are misleading.