WASHINTON - North Korea admitted to having a nuclear-weapons development program, and notified U.S. officials that it will no longer recognize the 1994 agreement with the United States and South Korea, which stopped nuclear weapons development activity in the Korean peninsula.

White House officials refused to confirm whether the North Koreans had successfully produced a nuclear weapon, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said: “Our position with respect to disarmament of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction is clear.”

Under the 1994 agreement, North Korea promised to abandon its nuclear program, in return for U.S.-led construction of two, modern, light-water reactors and 500,000 tons of fuel oil a year until the reactors are completed. North Korea has continuously accused the U.S. of being slow to deliver the reactors, which are years behind schedule.

Numerous theories of whether North Korea really has nuclear capability have surfaced. One theory holds that North Korea is seeking attention, like it has done in the past, hoping to trade nuclear capability for economic aid. Another popular theory in the Pentagon and the State Department says North Korea’s leaders want to demonstrate that they cannot be bullied by the United States.

(via New York Times)