North Korea slams U.S., South Korea, defends ‘incontestable’ right to make weapons

SEOUL, Sept. 17 (UPI) — North Korea defended its plans for satellite launches and nuclear weapons development, and said the United States is the real source of provocation in a strongly worded statement released Thursday.

Pyongyang’s propaganda outlet Uriminzokkiri said North Korea’s right to develop nuclear weapons and send long-range rockets into space is “incontestable,” South Korean outlet News 1 reported.

“The exercise of a right does not depend on the recognition of ‘legitimacy’ by another, and a lack of recognition does not make it a ‘provocation,’” North Korea said.

Pyongyang’s message instead said the United States and South Korea are “kicking up a fuss” by insisting North Korea is in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions, accusing the North of committing serious military provocations that are raising a red flag on the North-South relationship.

“Their blind acts are denying us of our dignity and sovereignty and can no longer be tolerated,” North Korea said.

Pyongyang’s announcements earlier this week on nuclear operations and rocket launches have drawn multiple condemnations.

John Kerry said Wednesday there will be “severe consequences” if North Korea continues provocations. In Seoul on Thursday, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said North Korea must make the right choice, or else “consequences will follow immediately,” and U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert said the U.S.-South Korea alliance is firmly positioned to cope with provocations, while leaving room for both sides to negotiate conflicts peacefully, Yonhap reported.

Voice of America reported other U.N. member countries have joined in their condemnation of North Korea provocations. Canada and Austria have said they will find ways to pressure North Korea until Pyongyang agrees to abandon its nuclear and missile-related programs.

The issue of pressure on North Korea was briefly addressed during the GOP presidential debate on Wednesday, when Donald Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a “maniac,” The Hill reported.

“You have somebody right now, in North Korea, who’s got nuclear weapons and who is saying almost every other week, ‘I’m ready to use them.’ And we don’t even mention it,” Trump said.