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DPRK vows to 'take further defense measures'
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-29 17:49

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will take "further defense measures" if the UN Security Council sanctions it for its recent nuclear test, the official KCNA news agency said Friday.

The DPRK "has the right to test nuclear bombs and missiles, which were proper defense measures for it and not in violation of any international law," the KCNA said, citing an unnamed spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry.

The purpose of Monday's underground test was to counter the Security Council's moves against the DPRK's April 5 launch of a rocket that put a satellite into orbit, the spokesman said.

"The United States and its followers were to blame for the current situation," he added.

The DPRK also demanded that the Security Council cancel all resolutions against it. If the Security Council disregards the demand, the spokesman said, the DPRK would no longer accept any UN resolutions.

The Security Council last month denounced the rocket launch, which was viewed by the United States and other countries as a disguised long-range missile test, and imposed sanctions on DPRK companies.

The actions prompted Pyongyang to announce that it was quitting the six-party talks on nuclear disarmament and would restart its nuclear facilities.

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