N. Korea denounces moves at U.N. to slap sanctions on Pyongyang

North Korea on Friday denounced moves by the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions on the country following its fourth nuclear test.

An unnamed spokesperson for the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the United Nations' preparation for new punitive steps and South Korea's recent restart of anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts are "hostile" and "not only are they to aggravate the situation on the Korean Peninsula, but they will also inevitably shoot out sparks."

The statement, carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, reiterated that the test was part of Pyongyang's efforts to defend itself from a nuclear threat posed by the United States.

• It said North Korea's proposal in January last year to impose a moratorium on its nuclear tests if the United States stops annual military exercises with South Korea, as well as other suggestions that have been made by Pyongyang, such as concluding a peace treaty, are "still valid."

Since October, North Korea has been repeatedly calling on the United States to engage in talks for a permanent peace treaty to replace the armistice that stopped, but technically never ended, the 1950-53 Korean War.

Some North Korea watchers have pointed out that what the country claims was its first successful test of a hydrogen bomb on Jan. 6 reflects its strong desire to pull the United States toward the negotiating table.
==Kyodo
15/1/16
--
-
Rrlated:

• Kishida, U.S., S. Korea officials confirm tough action on N. Korea