Bolstering Defence Capability Is Legitimate Right of Sovereign State: Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry

Pyongyang, January 14 (KCNA) -- A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK issued the following press statement on Friday:

The U.S. is coming out provocative again, finding fault with the DPRK's exercise of its right to self-defence.

The DPRK's recent development of new-type weapon was just part of its efforts for modernizing its national defence capability. It did not target any specific country or force and it did not do any harm to the security of neighboring countries.

Nevertheless, the U.S. is intentionally escalating the situation even with the activation of independent sanctions, not content with referring the DPRK's just activity to the UN Security Council.

The U.S. accusation of the DPRK's legitimate exercise of the right to self-defence is an evident provocation and a gangster-like logic.

This shows that though the present U.S. administration is trumpeting about diplomacy and dialogue, it is still engrossed in its policy for isolating and stifling the DPRK.

To bolster up the national defence capability is a legitimate right of a sovereign state.

The DPRK will not abandon its just right.

If the U.S. adopts such a confrontational stance, the DPRK will be forced to take stronger and certain reaction to it. -0-