Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Russia Pak Ui Chun said Monday that his country does not see any sense in further multilateral talks on the nuclear problem.

The ambassador made the remark at a reception for the 55th anniversary of the DPRK. He said the DPRK will strengthen its nuclear deterrence forces.

"The United States is refusing to co-exist with us and is trying to disarm us completely," Pak was quoted by Interfax as saying.

"We therefore do not see any sense in further multilateral talks and have no other choice other than to preserve and strengthen our nuclear deterrence forces as a means of legitimate self-defense from a US preventive nuclear strike, and ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region as awhole," he noted.

Delegations from China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan attended the Beijing six-party talks on the DPRK's nuclear issue between Aug. 27-29.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2003)