North Korea¡¯s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Ri Dong Il has declared the country¡¯s recent firing of scores of short-range missiles into the East Sea as ¡°self-defensive exercises as part of a normal training regimen.¡±

Speaking at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Ri went on to assert that if the United States continues its nuclear threat against North Korea ¡°there will be no choice but to display the power of our nuclear deterrent.¡±

¡°If the United States raises the pressure stakes against the North through its joint military exercises with the South, analogous retaliatory measures may be taken,¡± he added.

Criticism was also leveled at the United States for continuing to pose a nuclear threat to the North by pushing ahead with joint military drills during the recent separated family reunions and high-level inter-Korean talks.

Continuing, the ambassador said, ¡°The United States¡¯ continued hostile policy is an intentional strategy to bring about the collapse of North Korea.¡±

¡°The United States is causing a ridiculous commotion about human rights as part of its new hostile policy toward the North,¡± it was further claimed.