N. Korea ready for additional "counterattacks" against U.S. provocations: N. Korea's FM

北 리용호 "미국 도발에 추가 공격 준비돼 있다" North Korea continues to defy the international community in pursuit of nuclear weapons. In the regime's latest provocation, it's foreign minister has threatened more "counterattacks" against so-called hostile forces. Connie Kim reports. North Korea's foreign minister Ri Yong-ho on Thursday appeared at his first international meeting since taking office in May,… and said it will launch "counter-attacks" if the United States keeps provoking the regime. Ri made the threat at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Venezuela, which began on Tuesday. "Since we are facing the world's largest nuclear state, only nuclear weapons will protect us. Our arsenal is a countermeasure against threats and sanctions from hostile forces, including the United States." North Korea watchers see the senior official's comments as a protest against the U.S. B-1 bombers that flew over South Korea on Tuesday in a show of force against Pyongyang's most powerful nuclear blast to date. Some analysts say it's also part of the reclusive regime's efforts to soften new UN sanctions that are all but certain to come. The Non-Aligned Movement was formed in 1961 during the Cold War as an alternative for nations that did not back either the U.S. or the then-Soviet Union. Joining the organization in 1975,....North Korea is said to have used the organization to promote its state propaganda and attempt to engage with the international community. Kim Yong-nam , head of North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament will also attend the summit this weekend to reaffirm Pyongyang's nuclear status. Thursday's comments in Venezuela are not expected to be the last of the North Korean foreign minister's threats as Ri is due in New York next week for a speech at the UN General Assembly. Connie Kim, Arirang News. Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages Facebook(NEWS):   / newsarirang   Homepage: http://www.arirang.com Facebook:   / arirangtv   Twitter:   / arirangworld   Instagram:   / arirangworld