WASHINGTON/BEIJING, April 24: North Korea told the United States that it had nuclear weapons during talks in Beijing, which ended on Thursday, Bush administration sources said.

The development could dramatically increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the rest of Asia because of the possibility that North Korea could use its weapons to threaten South Korea, Japan and China.

“They said what we always knew — that they do have (nuclear) weapons. That doesn’t shock us. We’ve been saying that. Now they said it,” said one administration source.

The source played down a media report that North Korea had threatened to test nuclear weapons, saying: “They never used the word testing ... We’re still translating but it’s being overplayed a bit.”

While US officials declined to discuss the talks in detail, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States would not be intimidated by “bellicose statements” or threats from Pyongyang, suggesting that they were contentious.

Mr Powell said the US wanted a diplomatic solution, but he noted Washington had not taken any options off the table — a diplomatic phrase meaning military action had not been ruled out — and said it was looking for ways to “eliminate” the threat posed by any North Korean nuclear weapons programme.

“The North Koreans should not leave the meetings in Beijing, now that they have come to a conclusion ... with the slightest impression that the US and its partners will be intimidated by bellicose statements or by threats,” Mr Powell said in remarks to the US Asia-Pacific Council.

“Strong views were presented. The North Koreans presented their point of view strongly, the Chinese did as well, as did the United States,” he said. “As you know, we have not taken any options off the table but the president remains convinced ... that a peaceful solution can be found,” he added.—Reuters