Our successful nuclear test is a positive defensive countermeasure to defend our country's sovereignty and the people's life and safety so as to cope with the United States' increasing threat of nuclear war and the manoeuvres for sanctions and pressure; and thus was completely an exercise of a sovereign state's independent and legal right.

Because the United States, by taking advantage of the nuclear issue, gravely infringed on our state's supreme safety and our nation's fundamental interest, we were compelled to legally withdraw from the Non-proliferation Treaty in accordance with the relevant clause of the treaty and to manufacture a nuclear weapon by going through the most fair, just, and transparent process.

We also conducted the test proving our nuclear possession in a legitimate manner, after even providing advance notice, which transcends international norms.

We conducted the nuclear test under the condition where safety was thoroughly guaranteed, and we clearly declared that as a responsible nuclear possession country, we will never first use a nuclear weapon and will not allow nuclear transfer.

In addition, we clarified that we will make every possible effort to push ahead with worldwide nuclear arms reduction and the ultimate abolishment of nuclear weapons, and will also unchangingly maintain the principle to realize the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula through dialogue and negotiations.

Nevertheless, the United States, which is the ringleader that pushed us to a nuclear test, is now acting as if we had threatened international peace and security, while covering up and putting away what it did, like a thief wielding a club. This is entirely preposterous and can never be tolerated.

Our nuclear test rather serves as a great undertaking that has greatly contributed to safeguarding the peace and security of the Northeast Asian region, as well as the Korean peninsula, by demonstrating a powerful deterrent force that checks the United States' nuclear threat blackmail and attempt to provoke a new war.

To disregard all these facts; turn a blind eye to the United States' hostile policy towards the DPRK, which is the root of the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula; regard as a crime the implementation of our sovereign right to defend the country's sovereignty in the face of the [hostile policy]; and talk about the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula are immoral behaviours utterly devoid of impartiality

Needless to say, the recent UNSC resolution is based on a scenario [prepared] by the United States that is running amok to dismantle the popular masses-centred socialist system of our style and cannot but be regarded as a declaration of war against our Republic.

The United States must not miscalculate us.

No illusion can be more ridiculous or groundless than for the Bush group to think it can bring us to our knees with sanctions and pressures after forgetting the lesson from the shameful defeats recorded by its previous administrations in the history of relations with the DPRK and remaining stuck on its already bankrupt hostile policy towards the DPRK. As our Republic had not been shaken by any wind or wave even without nuclear weapons in the past, it is nonsensical for it to yield to anyone else's pressures or threats today when it has become a dignified nuclear power.

We want peace but do not fear war, and we desire dialogue but are always ready for confrontation, as well.

We will fulfil our duty to denuclearize the Korean peninsula as we have already declared, but if anyone tries to infringe on our sovereignty and our right to existence, even a bit, under the signboard of the UN Security Council resolution, we will unsparingly launch a merciless strike.

We will watch out for any move by the United States, and will take appropriate measures accordingly.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6058316.stm
Published: 2006/10/17 10:02:43 GMT © BBC MMVI