The DPRK ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Han Tae Song, says sanctions imposed on Pyongyang by the US are ineffective. He also says joint military exercises by South Korea and the US would harm "the current positive process of improved inter-Korean relations".  

HAN TAE SONG DPRK AMBASSADOR TO THE UN IN GENEVA "U.S. should (be) aware that sanction and pressure will never threaten DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and will never work. Stop all provocations that accelerate tensions including deployment of nuclear assets around Korean peninsula. Second, completely stop the joint military exercises which is (a) key factor that undermines regional peace and security."

US disarmament ambassador Robert Wood said Han's demands will not happen. He was also at Tuesday's forum. He said Washington would never recognize DPRK as a nuclear weapon state. He said Pyongyang must respond to the demands of the international community and halt its banned weapons programs. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said sanctions on the DPRK aim to pressure it to abandon its nuclear ambitions, not to "bring down" the country.