The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has described the latest UN sanctions imposed on the country as an "act of war".
In a statement by the foreign ministry, Pyongyong described the latest UN sanctions "as a violent breach of our republic's sovereignty and an act of war that destroys the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and a wide region."
It added that strengthening North Korea's deterrence was the only way to frustrate the US and its allies.
"We will further consolidate our self-defensive nuclear deterrence aimed at fundamentally eradicating the US nuclear threats, blackmail and hostile moves by establishing the practical balance of force with the US."
The new sanctions by the UN Security Council were imposed on Friday in response to Pyongyang's continuous ballistic missile tests.
The US-drafted resolution - unanimously backed by all 15 Security Council members - includes measures to slash North Korea's petrol imports by up to 90%.
North Korea is already subject to a raft of sanctions from the US, the EU and the UN.
