Pyongyang not to renounce nuclear program while U.S. ups military budget - Russian MP Shamanov
MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) - North Korea will not roll back its missile and nuclear program while the United States increases expenses on a military settlement of the Korean Peninsula crisis, State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Vladimir Shamanov said on Wednesday.
"No, not under these circumstances," Shamanov said, responding to a question as to whether North Korea would agree to roll back its nuclear program after the United States declared an increase in funding for military counteraction of North Korea.
He thinks North Korea understands that this U.S. decision is rooted in "the policy of double standards, so it is preparing a variety of additional surprises instead of sitting down to negotiate."
"North Korea has long been receiving messages that no one is going to alleviate pressure on it," Shamanov said.
U.S. President Donald Trump asked the Congress to expand U.S. defense expenditures by almost $6 billion, the greater portion of which, $4 billion, is meant for countering North Korea.
Another $1.2 billion will be invested in South Asia, including a larger U.S. presence in Afghanistan. A sum of $700 million is needed to repair the USS John McCain and USS Fitzgerald vessels.