North Korea vows to respond to UN condemnation as a 'power'

UNITED NATIONS — North Korea is calling a UN Security Council statement strongly condemning its four latest ballistic missile launches "a hostile act" perpetrated by the United States and is vowing to respond "as a full-fledged military power."

A Foreign Ministry statement sent to UN correspondents on yesterday reiterated a warning that the US "rash act" of finding fault with the North's latest missile firing from a submarine on Aug. 24 "would only precipitate its self-destruction."

A press statement approved Friday night by all 15 Security Council members, including North Korea ally China, called the four launches in July and August "grave violations" of a ban on all ballistic missile activity.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry accused the US of instigating the statement to deter the country's "legitimate right to self-defense."