The Democratic People's Republic of Korea says it may conduct further nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests in self-defense.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it will hit back in self-defense if the UN Security Council does not apologize for "infringing" on the country's sovereignty.

It says the country also plans to build a light water reactor as its first step for a nuclear power plant.

Earlier this month, the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement condemning the April 5 rocket launch by the DPRK and ordering further sanctions.

Pyongyang immediately announced it was quitting the six-party talks on nuclear disarmament and would restart nuclear facilities in protest of the UN statement.

(CCTV April 30, 2009)