WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Korea has rejected U.S. preconditions for talks, labeling them as “completely unacceptable”.

Washington said Friday that talks with North Korea could only happen if Pyongyang proved it was committed to denuclearization. In response, a statement published today by state media outlet KCNA said that dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. could only happen if it was considered a conversation “between nuclear weapons states”.

The statement added, “The U.S. should understand that a dialogue will begin only when the DPRK’s demand for the withdrawal of strategic offensive means in the vicinity of the peninsula aimed at realizing the U.S. world