DPRK vows to continue nuke arsenal development

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced on Sunday that it will continue to develop its nuclear capability despite increasing condemnation by the international community.

"We are holding fast to the line of simultaneously developing the two fronts (economic growth and nuclear development) to safeguard the sovereignty, right to existence and peace from the ever-increasing nuclear threat and blackmail of the U.S., and the recent test was just part of the whole course of implementing the line," said a statement issued by a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry and carried by the state media KCNA.

The statement came two days after the DPRK's announcement that it had successfully carried out a nuclear warhead explosion, which marked its fifth nuclear test after Pyongyang conducted what it called a hydrogen-bomb test on Jan. 6.

The DPRK was compelled to develop nuclear warheads, and nuclear blackmail from the United States is "an engine which pushed the DPRK to reach this point," the statement noted.

"We will continue to take measures for increasing the nuclear force of the country in quality and quantity to ensure genuine peace from the U.S. increasing threat of a nuclear war," it added.

In the wake of its nuclear warhead test, the international community has voiced its strong condemnation over the development.

After a closed-door meeting on the matter, the United Nations Security Council on Friday issued a press statement, saying "a clear threat to international peace and security continues to exist" with the DPRK's latest test.

The 15-member Security Council imposed severe sanctions on Pyongyang in March following its fourth nuclear explosion, including an export ban and asset freeze.

Also on Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing firm opposition to the nuclear test and commitment to settle the problems through the six-party talks on Pyongyang's denuclearization.

The statement said China's stance has always been to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, prevent nuclear proliferation, and maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia.