North Korea Vows to Press Ahead With Nuclear Programme

North Korea has vowed to press ahead with its nuclear ambitions saying that the UN sanctions are clearly orchestrated by the US.

A day after the UN Security Council agreed on fresh clampdown on its finances, North Korea denounced the resolution.

A statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the latest sanctions are "clear proof" that the UN has been "abused" by the US targeting North Korea.

The council passed a unanimous resolution tightening the screws further on North Korea in response to its recent nuclear test despite international outcry.

"The DPRK vehemently denounces and totally rejects the resolution on sanctions against the DPRK, a product of the US hostile policy toward it," said an unidentified spokesperson representing the country's foreign ministry.

Maintaining a defiant tone, the statement said: "The world will clearly see what permanent position the DPRK will reinforce as a nuclear weapons state and satellite launcher as a result of the US attitude of prodding the UNSC into cooking up the resolution."

The statement said that North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong-un, will reinforce itself as a nuclear weapons state and satellite launcher.

In a blow to North Korea, its only key ally, China, has also supported the sanctions but urged the authorities in the Korean peninsula to maintain calm amid rising tensions.

Analysts see a slight shift in the Chinese stand. China could be veering around to the view that North Korea might be turning into more of a liability, according to Reuters. However, China is said to be not yet ready to dump North Korea.

"We always believe that sanctions are not the end of Security Council actions, nor are sanctions the fundamental way to resolve the relevant issues. The only right way to resolve the issue is to take a holistic approach and resolve the concerns of all parties involved in a comprehensive and balanced manner through dialogue and consultations," said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi during a press conference.

The US has continued its warning against any provocations from the North. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said: "The United States of America and our allies are prepared to deal with any threat and any reality that occurs in the world. We are aware of what's going on. We have partnerships in that part of the world that are important," referring to South Korea and Japan.