South Korea has reaffirmed that it will never recognize North Korea as a nuclear state.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Cho June-hyuck said on Tuesday during a regular news briefing that South Korea and the international community will never accept the North as a nuclear power and that Seoul will continue to impose strong sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang.

The spokesman added that the government stands firm on the position that the North’s dual-track policy of simultaneously pursuing economic development and nuclear weapons will never succeed.

He said that in the recent party congress, the North made it clear that it has no intent of abandoning nuclear weapons by repeating its claim that it is a responsible nuclear power and reaffirming its policy of pursuing nuclear armament and economic development at the same time. 

The spokesman urged Pyongyang to show its willingness to denuclearize through actions.