May 19, 2017•Update: May 20, 2017
NEW YORK
North Korea on Friday blamed U.S. foreign policy for the long-standing political crisis on the Korean peninsula.
"The urgent issue to be settled on the Korean Peninsula is to put a definite end to the U.S. hostile policy toward DPRK, the root cause of all problems," the North's deputy permanent representative to the UN Kim In Ryong told reporters at UN headquarters. DPRK is the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.
Kim said the North would not abide by UN resolutions, which "lost their legitimacy, legality and impartiality", until the international community recognizes its right to "self-defensive measures" and the U.S. ends its "provocative maneuvers".
Meanwhile, Kim rejected "ridiculous" allegations the WannaCry cyberattack that affected hundreds of thousands of computers around the world originated from North Korea.
North Korea is barred from ballistic missile technology under multiple Security Council resolutions, and has suffered UN sanctions for more than a decade.
On Tuesday, South Korea's new government and the U.S. administration committed to "bold and practical" ways to denuclearize North Korea.
Tuesday's agreement came as President Moon Jae-in's security advisers met with visiting representatives from the U.S. National Security Council ahead of a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump next month.
The move represented a significant development from Seoul under the government of liberal leader Moon following his victory in last week's presidential election.
The agreement came after North Korea conducted its latest ballistic missile test Sunday, claiming the U.S. was within its sights and it had the capability to fire a large nuclear warhead.
The UN Security Council was swift to condemn the test but North Korea's director of Asian affairs, Pak Jong-hak, insisted Tuesday that Pyongyang would not be deterred.
"Until the U.S. and its followers make a right choice, we will further produce sophisticated and diversified nuclear weapons and striking means and push to prepare for necessary tests," Pak said according to the North's state-run KCNA news agency.
Meanwhile, the South Korean Navy revealed a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier group was to remain in the vicinity indefinitely, while Seoul's defense ministry warned it was ready to carry out a preemptive strike if it detected a missile threat from North Korea.
