N.Korean official sees sanctions as war act-Yonhap

SOUTH KOREA: A strict sanctions regime on North Korea will be tantamount to an act of war, a North Korean official stationed in Beijing told Yonhap news agency on Wednesday.

"If all out sanctions are implemented, we will take it as a declaration of war," the official said when asked about possible U.N. Security Council sanctions in response to the North's reported nuclear test on Monday.

Yonhap did not identify the official.

Earlier A North Korean legislator on Tuesday defended his country's announced nuclear test, saying it had been facing sanctions and threats from the United States for more than 60 years and had to defend itself.

Ri Jong-hyok, a member of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, spoke on a rare visit by a North Korean to the European Parliament in Brussels, where he took part in an exchange of views with EU parliamentarians.

"Our country has been under severe sanctions and threats by the United States for more than 60 years," he said.

"It is in our supreme interest and that of the security of our state to defend ourselves when serious threats appear." "We had to take measures in order to obtain a nuclear deterrent against the Americans," Ri said, adding that it was a "matter of life and death".

At the same time, Ri said North Korea would be ready to resume international talks about its nuclear programme, if financial sanctions were lifted.

Seoul, Wednesday, Reuters