Washington (CNN) North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday that there "will never" be denuclearization on the Korean peninsula if the US "persists in its hostile policy towards" the hermit nation, according to the country's state news agency. In the plenary, Kim said "the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism is built." In an indication that North Korea could soon resume nuclear weapon testing, Kim said his country should no longer feel bound by its self-imposed halt on nuclear weapons and long-range missile testing. He also announced that "the world will witness a new strategic weapon" in the near future, KCNA reported. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News later Tuesday that he hoped the North Korean leader "doesn't go in that direction" and instead will "choose peace and prosperity over conflict and war."

Source: CNN December 31, 2019 23:03 UTC