25 September,2016 10:15 AM IST | | Agencies
Plans to take measures to strengthen its nuclear armed forces in 'quantity and quality'
N Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho addresses the 71st UN session on Friday. Pic/AP
United Nations: North Korea's foreign minister has told the United Nations that "going nuclear" is his country's only way to defend itself and vowed to further bolster its nuclear military forces.
Speaking to the General Assembly, Ri Yong-ho on Friday said his country will "continue to take measures to strengthen its national nuclear armed forces in both quantity and quality."
He spoke just two weeks after North Korea's fifth and most powerful nuclear test provoked worldwide condemnation, prompting the UN Security Council to begin work on a new sanctions resolution.
"Going nuclear is the policy of our state," Ri told the world gathering. "As long as there exists a nuclear weapon state in hostile relations with the DPRK (North Korea), our national security and the peace on the Korean peninsula can be defended only with reliable nuclear deterrence," he said.
North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired more than 20 missiles this year alone.
After the latest blast on September 9, Pyongyang claimed it had significantly advanced its ability and tested a miniaturised nuclear bomb for a warhead that can be mounted on a missile.
