North Korea 's ambassador to the UK has issued a chilling warning that his country would be prepared to use nuclear weapons . In a rare interview , Hyun Hak-bong claimed the secretive state could launch a deadly warhead 'anytime ' . Speaking to Sky News at the North Korean embassy in west London , he said : 'We are prepared . 'If a sparkle of a fire is made on the Korean peninsula , it will lead to a nuclear war . 'We do n't say empty words . We mean what we mean . It is not the United States that has a monopoly on nuclear weapons strikes . ' Scroll down for video . Hyun Hak-bong said his countrymen were 'peace-loving people ' , but still prepared to launch a nuclear strike . A North Korean vehicle carrying a missile passes by during a mass military parade in Pyongyang 's Kim Il Sung Square . The country 's ambassador to the UK claims it could launch a nuclear warhead 'anytime ' When asked to clarify if North Korea had the ability to fire a nuclear missile , Mr Hak-bong confirmed : 'Anytime , anytime , yes . ' He did add that North Koreans were a 'peace-loving people ' and the communist country would only launch a nuclear attack in the event of an American first strike . The threat comes against the backdrop of annual US/South Korean military exercises which the North views as preparation for a possible invasion . The Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercises last several weeks and involve hundreds of thousands of troops . America claims they are defensive but Pyongyang considers them a provocation . In the same interview Mr Hak-bong also launched a vicious attack on defectors from the North . He said of those who have managed to escape the regime of dictator Kim Jong-un : 'Do you know the difference between human beings and animals ? North Korea claims the Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercises by the US and South Korea , involving hundreds of thousands of troops on land , sea and air , are a provocation and preparation for a possible invasion . The North Korean embassy in Acton , west London . The UN is launching yet another investigation into the communist dictatorship 's human rights record . 'Human beings have a conscience and morality . If they do not have a conscience and a morality the are like nothing . 'They 're animals . That is why we call the defectors animals . They are no better than animals . They 're human scum . ' The allegations came after the United Nations launched yet another investigation into North Korea 's human rights record . The UN is also planning to investigate reports that up to 20,000 North Koreans have been sent to Qatar to help build the 2022 World Cup facilities under inhumane conditions .
Hyun Hak-bong claims secretive state could easily launch warhead . Chilling words came in rare interview at North Korean embassy in London . Score: 6