We won't give up nuclear weapons: North Korea

North Korea has made it clear that it won't give up nuclear weapons, which are to guard the country against American threat.

A North Korean delegation, headed by Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, arrived here early on Saturday to attend the six-party talks on the country's nuclear programme.

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Upon his arrival, Kim said his country was not optimistic about the outlook of the upcoming round of talks, and that the US should change its hostile policy towards North Korea to one of peaceful co-existence.

He said North Korea was willing to discuss other contents of the September joint statement except nuclear weapons during the new round of six-party talks, on the condition that the US gives up its sanctions against his country.

Kim said North Korea would not give up nuclear weapons, which are to guard the country against American threat.

The North Korean delegation was the first to arrive here for the talks. Representatives of South Korea, Russia, US and Japan are scheduled to arrive later.

Aimed at resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the upcoming six-party talks, also involving China, will resume here December 18.

The meetings will be the first since North Korea detonated its first nuclear device in October.