N. Korea vows to build nuclear arsenal

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PYONGYANG, North Korea, July 31 (UPI) -- North Korea said Tuesday it will keep building its nuclear capabilities, accusing the United States of trying to bring down the communist regime.

A spokesman for the country's Foreign Ministry said North Korea would meet any U.S. hostility with maximum determination, Yonhap reported.

"While talking about the livelihood of people in other countries, the U.S. is blocking our economic development and improvement of our people's livelihood with its most vicious and persistent anti-republic sanctions," the spokesman said in a statement published by North's Korean Central News Agency.

"And for such a country to say we will be better off once we give up our nuclear weapons only reminds us of a coyote who tells a ram that it will not be eaten if it gives up its horns," the statement said.

The statement issued from Pyongyang said the United States shouldn't underestimate North Korea's determination.

"With a rifle in one hand and a banner of industrial revolution in the other, we will surely build a powerful socialist nation while facing the U.S.'s anti-[North Korean] policies with the utmost resoluteness," it said.

U.S. President Obama last week said North Korea and Iran, "cannot be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons."