By Byun Duk-kunWASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The United States does not and will not recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapons state as it seeks to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, a state department spokesperson said Monday.I do not foresee that ever becoming a policy," Ned Price told a press briefing when asked about the possibility of the U.S. ever recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state."We, of course, would like to see the DPRK engage in serious, substantial dialogue on this."It sounds like the DPRK may be in a different position, but we believe that by engaging in dialogue and diplomacy we can most effectively bring about what is our ultimate objective and that is the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added.bdk@yna.co.kr(END)(END)- BTS leader RM to emcee new educational TV show- (URGENT) Death toll climbs to 120, 100 injured in Halloween stampede in Itaewon : authorities- BTS, BLACKPINK, Jungkook nominated for People's Choice Awards- (LEAD) BTS' Jin premiers 'The Astronaut' with Coldplay in Argentina- (2nd LD) BTS' Jin makes solo debut with 'The Astronaut'- BTS leader RM to emcee new educational TV show- (11th LD) At least 151 killed, 82 injured in Halloween stampede in Seoul's Itaewon- About 50 people suffer suspected cardiac arrest in Seoul's Itaewon area- (7th LD) At least 149 dead, 76 injured in Halloween stampede in Seoul- Mother of Itaewon stampede victim searches for missing daughter- 'I carried, like, 50 bodies': Halloween crowd crush witness- (LEAD) Itaewon crowd crush death toll rises to 154, including 26 foreigners- (4th LD) South Korea mourns Itaewon crush deaths- U.S. does not and will not recognize N. Korea as nuclear state: State Dept."