North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has declared that nuclear armament is the policy of his country. He said that as long as nuclear powers hostile to North Korea exist, the North's security can only be defended through reliable nuclear deterrence.
 
The North has also blasted South Korea-U.S. joint military drills saying Pyongyang will not sit idle to the threat.
 
Referring to U.S. strategic bombers which flew over the Korean Peninsula in recent days, Ri said that Washington will face tremendous consequences beyond imagination. 
 
The North Korean diplomat made these remarks in a keynote speech on Friday at the 71st UN General Assembly under way in New York.
 
Ri said the nuclear warhead explosion test the North successfully conducted is part of practical countermeasures to the threats and sanctions of hostile forces including the United States.
 
He said the test displayed the determination of the ruling party and the North Korean people showing that the country is ready to fight off enemies, if it is provoked.