US sanctions have not stopped nuke development: N Korea

NKorea has said US financial sanctions have not foiled its development of nuke weapons, as Pyongyang has built atomic bombs with its own technology and resources.

North Korea has said that US financial sanctions have not foiled its development of nuclear weapons, as Pyongyang has built atomic bombs with its own technology and resources.

HT Image

North Korea's foreign ministry spokesman repeatedly denied US claims that the Stalinist state was counterfeiting dollars to finance its nuclear ambitions.

"We manufactured nuclear weapons with our own technology, funds and raw materials from A to Z," the unnamed spokesman said.

"As we are not dependent on the US at all in the economic and financial fields, no US sanctions would work on us."

The spokesman said US sanctions were "nothing but a fabrication solely intended to tarnish the image of the DPRK (North Korea) and do harm to it."

He then reiterated that Pyongyang would join international efforts to counter money laundering and other illegal activities.

The United States had launched a crackdown on North Korea's alleged illegal financial activities last year.

In September last year, the US Treasury had halted all dealings with a Macau-based bank accused of acting as a willing front for North Korean money laundering. It also blacklisted eight North Korean companies in connection with the bank.