MOSCOW. Aug 23 (Interfax) - While North Korea has chosen to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from the constant threat emanating from the United States, Pyongyang understands the importance of ensuring a peaceful situation in the Korean Peninsula, North Korean Ambassador Kim Hyung Jun said in an interview with Interfax in Moscow on Tuesday.

"In order to defend our state and our political system from the constant nuclear threat on the U.S. part, we have chosen the path of developing nuclear weapons as a self-defense measure and are continuing to follow a strategic course of strengthening our nuclear armed forces," Kim said.

The U.S.