DPRK threatens nuclear, missile tests

SEOUL: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) threatened yesterday to conduct nuclear and missile tests unless the UN apologizes for criticizing its April 5 rocket launch, dramatically raising its stake in the worsening standoff over its atomic programs.

Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the country "will be compelled to take additional self-defensive measures" unless the UN Security Council apologizes immediately. "The measures will include nuclear tests and test-firings of intercontinental ballistic missiles."

The DPRK's ministry also said the country would build a light-water nuclear reactor and start developing technologies to produce nuclear fuel, a threat that experts said indicated the country would start enriching uranium - which can be used in the production of a nuclear bomb.