June 14 (Asia Today) -- North Korea has rejected renewed international calls for its denuclearization, declaring that its status as a nuclear-armed state will not change despite criticism from South Korea, the United States, Japan and European countries.

SEOUL, June 15 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed his commitment to establishing a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula on Sunday, saying that the "ember of hope" for dialogue and cooperation with Pyongyang still exists.