N. Korea: UN sanctions tantamount to declaration of war

The UN sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear test are a declaration of war, and the country will "deal merciless blows" if the nation's sovereignty is violated, the North's central government said Tuesday in its first response to the UN measures.

The North's Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency that the country wants "peace but is not afraid of war."

The North "vehemently denounces the resolution, a product of the US hostile policy toward (the North) and totally refutes it," the statement said.

"The resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of a war" against the North, it said.

The country warned that if anyone used the UN resolution to infringe on the country's sovereignty, "It will deal merciless blows at him through strong actions."

The U.N. Sanctions, passed Saturday, bans the sale of major arms to the North and orders the inspection of cargo to and from the country. It also calls for the freezing of assets of business supplying the North's nuclear and ballistic weapons programs.

The North "will closely follow the future US Attitude and take corresponding measures," the statement said, without specifying what those measures would be.

Second nuclear test? 

On Monday, US television networks reported that US spy satellites have detected suspicious vehicle and people activity near the site of North Korea's nuclear test that may signal preparations for another test.

US officials said they could not be certain of what the North Koreans were doing in the area, but the activity there could be preparations for a second nuclear blast, NBC and ABC said.

In Seoul, a South Korean government official told Reuters on Tuesday: "The government is aware of signs related to North Korea's possible second nuclear test. We cannot exclude the possibility of a second test."

But he added there was no firm information on a possible new test.