SEOUL: North Korea declared on Saturday that its nuclear weapons are not for negotiating purposes, but are designed for combat use against enemies that pose a threat to its people and global peace, according to a report from its state media.

The statement comes after US President Donald Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the White House on Friday. The two leaders expressed their obligation to ensure that North Korea ends its nuclear weapons program.

KCNA did not mention the meeting between the US and Japanese leaders, but instead cited reported comments from NATO and EU officials who repeated the demand for a complete denuclearization of North Korea.

“We say this clearly again: Our nuclear weapons are not an advertisement to get anyone’s recognition and even less a negotiating chip to be exchanged for some money,” KCNA said in a statement.

“Our nuclear strengths are for unshakable fighting to quickly eliminate any attempts from the enemy’s forces that violate the sovereignty of our country and our people’s safety and threaten world peace,” it said.

North Korea has not responded directly to Overtures from Trump to resume contact with his leader Kim Jong Un and instead emphasized his intention to “strengthen” his nuclear forces.

Trump said on Friday that he “wants relationship with North Korea and with Kim Jong Un,” he added that he had a good relationship with Kim. The two held unprecedented summits during Trump’s first presidency.

On January 20, when he was inaugurated for his second period, Trump said the North was a “nuclear power”, raised questions whether he would pursue gun reduction interviews rather than denuclearization negotiations.

“The two leaders expressed their serious concerns about and the need to tackle North Korea’s Nuclear and Missile Programs and confirmed their deciding obligation to the complete denuclearization of North Korea,” a joint statement from Trump and Ishiba that was posted after their lectures.