North Korea says Peru throwing 'gas on the fire' of nuclear spat

North Korea's ambassador in Peru Kim Hak-Chol reads a statement to the press after he was expelled by Peruvian government, in Lima, Peru, September 12, 2017. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo

LIMA (Reuters) - North Korea's ambassador to Peru said Tuesday that Lima's decision to expel him was akin to "throwing gasoline on the fire" on the dispute over Pyongyang's nuclear tests that it would continue to pursue "without wavering."

Peru declared the ambassador, Kim Hak-Chol, a persona non grata on Monday to protest North Korea's refusal to heed the world's "constant calls" to end its nuclear programme - giving him five days to leave the Andean country.