The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will further build up its strength to protect itself if the UN Security Council fails to perform its duty in a fair and just manner, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

All military measures taken by the Korean People's Army, including firing tactical rockets, are the exercise of its right to protect the sovereignty and security of the country against the U.S. nuclear threat, the ministry said in a statement, which slammed a note released to the press by the UN Security Council that called the DPRK's missiles launch "violation of its resolutions."

The Security Council, whose mission is to ensure global peace and security, should question the joint military drills by the United States and South Korea rather than overlook the "U.S. nuclear threat and war maneuvers," it said.

The United States staged Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises with South Korea, and conducted a joint landing exercise and a joint aerial maneuver, despite a series of peaceful proposals made by the DPRK side, according to the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

If the UN Security Council serves the purpose of the U.S. hostile moves against it, the DPRK is left with no option but to intensify its own efforts to protect itself, it noted.

The statement also warned the DPRK will take counter actions, including firing tactical rockets and holding other military drills on an annual and regular basis, if the United States and South Korea persist in their joint military maneuvers.

The DPRK has launched more than 90 short- and medium-range missiles and shells since Feb. 21.

The UN spokesperson's office released a note Thursday, saying these launches clearly violate the resolutions of the Security Council banning the DPRK from conducting any launch using ballistic missile technology.

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