North Korea slams U.N. Security Council as U.S. 'puppet'

SEOUL, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- North Korea denounced the United Nations as a "puppet" of the United States on the 71st anniversary of the founding of the U.N.

An editorial in Pyongyang's Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun stated reform of the U.N. Security Council is urgently needed, at a time when "it does not abide by the principles of proper action in accord with the demands and expectations of member countries."

"At present, the U.N. Security Council has shown it does not have the capability to properly carry out its mission and is romping around as a puppet of the United States," Pyongyang stated.

North Korea also said the Security Council is under the pressure of U.S. "influence and despotism" and that resolutions that "rationalize and legalize U.S. policy of world domination" are being rashly adopted.

North Korea's statement comes at a time when the United States, South Korea and Japan are seeking the adoption of new sanctions against Pyongyang in response to a nuclear test on Sept. 9.

In a speech to Seoul's parliament, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said North Korea is in the process of transitioning from a country that "conducts nuclear tests" to one that possesses fully capable nuclear weapons, local newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reported Monday.

North Korea must be stopped before it develops such capacity, Park said.

"After Kim Jong Un assumed power, North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests and is trying to transition from conducting nuclear tests to possessing nuclear weapons, while continuously firing ballistic missiles and repeatedly engaging in reckless provocations," Park said.

The South Korean leader also called for "steady commitment" and "fearless courage" in resolving the North Korea nuclear issue.

On Monday North Korea's KCNA condemned Park with a misogynistic slur and called her a "witch" who was "promoting" antagonism between North and South Koreans.