North Korea on Sunday rejected the latest sanctions imposed on it by the UN Security Council (UNSC) and reiterated its intention of further developing its nuclear deterrence programme. A Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said that Pyongyang criticised the punitive measures announced on Friday that further limit the country's access to petroleum products, ban its exports in several sectors and force its citizens working abroad to return to the country, reports Efe news.

This file photo taken on July 29, 2017 shows people watching as coverage of an ICBM missile test is displayed on a screen in a public square in Pyongyang. North Korea slammed fresh UN sanctions imposed over its missile tests as an "act of war" on December 24, 2017, its first response to the latest diplomatic move to punish Pyongyang's ever-accelerating weapons drive. Pic/ AFP