The former number two man in North Korea's London embassy has claimed a 1994 nuclear deal made between Pyongyang and Washington was a hoax from the beginning.

Former deputy ambassador to London Thae Yong-ho made the remark during a forum organized by the Institute for National Security Strategy on Thursday, saying no one in the North’s Foreign Ministry believed the Geneva Agreement would be sincerely implemented.

Thae, who defected to South Korea last year with his family, argued that despite a lack of sincerity, the signing of the nuclear deal served interests of both Pyongyang and Washington.

For Pyongyang, it allotted time for then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to stabilize his leadership in the aftermath of the death of his father and previous leader Kim Il-sung early in the year.

Thae said then-U.S. President Bill Clinton also signed the deal, thinking it would give him time to “manage” the North’s regime without major setbacks.

The ex-diplomat said he sees no chance the North will sincerely give up its nuclear program due to internal factors.

He also said it is difficult to draw a change in attitude from the North toward its nuclear program with an incentive-oriented policy. He said no matter how attractive an incentive is, the North will not grab it if it does not complement the regime's one-man rule.