North Korea vows to continue nuclear programme

North Korea has vowed to continue its nuclear programme in spite of tough sanctions imposed by the United States and backed by North Korea’s ally China.

Pyongyang says it is poised to become a “satellite power.”

A statement read on state television said: “We will bolster up the self-defensive nuclear deterrent and move forward on the path to become a satellite superpower.”

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Wednesday tightening restrictions on North Korea after its January 6 nuclear test and the launch in February of a long-range rocket.

As part of the UN sanctions, all cargo moving in and out of North Korea will have to be inspected. Some government officials have also been blacklisted.

The sanctions are considered the toughest in more than two decades.

“What matters is that the “resolution” is the most undisguised and the most hideous international crime aimed at isolating and stifling the independent sovereign state under the unjustified pretexts,” an identified government source is quoted as saying.

#NorthKorea rejects UN SC resolution, vows to go ahead with #nuclear program https://t.co/syP5jBYCwd #UNSC pic.twitter.com/qFAgpOuFwr

— Sputnik (SputnikInt) March 4, 2016

North Korea’s state media has also reported that Kim Jung Un has ordered the country’s military to be ready to use its nuclear weapons at any time in the face of what he described as growing threats from enemies.

Kim Jung Un’s latest statements have been widely condemned by South Korea, the U.S. and China.