By Rachel Lee
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong protested U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang, saying his country developed nuclear weapons only to cope with nuclear threats from the United States.
Ri made the claim during his keynote speech at a high-level meeting of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at U.N. headquarters in New York, Thursday.
"We tried to hold a dialogue and make efforts through international law to remove nuclear threats, but we were left with only one choice, which is to respond to nukes with nukes," Ri said.
His remarks came at a time when there is a growing concern that Pyongyang might go ahead with its fifth nuclear test.
The North Korean minister also claimed that the U.S. is conducting what he described as the biggest ever nuclear war exercises on the Korean Peninsula, with 300,000 military personnel involved, apparently referring to the annual military exercises which were expanded this year in response to increased tensions with North Korea.
In his speech, Ri urged Washington to stop its hostile policy towards his country and said that Pyongyang is determined to seek compensation from the U.S. for hampering with its sustainable development.
He said Washington's attempts to tumble the North through an economic blockade is an "expression of ignorance."
Ri visited New York last September to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
His visit led to speculation that the foreign minister might meet with U.S. officials such as Secretary of State John Kerry but this has been denied.
U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2270 was imposed on March 2 in response to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test in January and subsequent long-range rocket launch in February.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong protested U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang, saying his country developed nuclear weapons only to cope with nuclear threats from the United States.
Ri made the claim during his keynote speech at a high-level meeting of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at U.N. headquarters in New York, Thursday.
"We tried to hold a dialogue and make efforts through international law to remove nuclear threats, but we were left with only one choice, which is to respond to nukes with nukes," Ri said.
His remarks came at a time when there is a growing concern that Pyongyang might go ahead with its fifth nuclear test.
The North Korean minister also claimed that the U.S. is conducting what he described as the biggest ever nuclear war exercises on the Korean Peninsula, with 300,000 military personnel involved, apparently referring to the annual military exercises which were expanded this year in response to increased tensions with North Korea.
In his speech, Ri urged Washington to stop its hostile policy towards his country and said that Pyongyang is determined to seek compensation from the U.S. for hampering with its sustainable development.
He said Washington's attempts to tumble the North through an economic blockade is an "expression of ignorance."
Ri visited New York last September to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
His visit led to speculation that the foreign minister might meet with U.S. officials such as Secretary of State John Kerry but this has been denied.
U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2270 was imposed on March 2 in response to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test in January and subsequent long-range rocket launch in February.
