As a response to what they perceive as hostility from the Bush administration, North Korea yesterday threatened to begin testing nuclear weapons. The threat came during six-nation talks in Beijing. According to the Washington Post, North Korea accused the Bush administration of hindering its economic growth and requested that Washington help pay for its electrical power costs. The White House dismissed the threat and a presidential spokesman praised yesterday’s talks. Also at the meeting, North Korea denied it possessed a program to develop highly enriched uranium. The Washington Post reported that diplomats now believe North Korea may reject the Bush administration’s request for intrusive nuclear inspections.