NORTH KOREA: North Korea said yesterday it was not bound by a UN Security Council resolution imposing weapons-related sanctions on it and insisted the country would "bolster its war deterrent" in every way.
The council had acted with "irresponsibility" by voting unanimously for a resolution requiring nations to prevent North Korea from acquiring dangerous weapons, an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said. "Our republic will bolster its war deterrent for self-defence in every way, by all means and methods, now that the situation has reached the worst phase due to the extremely hostile act of the US," the spokesman was quoted as saying.
North Korea refers to its military build-up and its weapons of mass destruction programmes as its war deterrent, saying the US military presence and drills on the Korean peninsula are a prelude to war against it. Washington says its 30,000 troops are deployed under an alliance with Seoul to deter a military threat from the North.
Saturday's council resolution demanded that Pyongyang suspend all missile activities and return to talks. It also requires all UN member states to prevent imports and exports of any material or funds relating to the reclusive Communist nation's missile programmes or weapons of mass destruction.