The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) yesterday slammed US hardliners for their remarks that Washington should implement a harder policy against Pyongyang, saying the DPRK would never give up its nuclear program until the US abandons its stance.

The DPRK's remarks came after the Wall Street Journal and John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, said that the Bush administration should not soften the policy to Pyongyang.

"This is ... a Cold War-minded view on confrontation which calls for isolating and stifling the DPRK," said a comment by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The DPRK can never abandon its nuclear program unless the US rolls back its hostile policy toward the DPRK," it added.