UN Pressure Is 'Declaration of War': N. Korea

North Korea will consider pressure from Western nations over its recent rocket launch to be a  "declaration of war," Pyongyang said today. The nation is already increasing its "defense capability including nuclear deterrent in every way" due to US and UN criticism of the launch, which North Korea says put a communications satellite into orbit. Washington says the rocket's payload never got that far, CNN reports.

In a rambling televised statement, North Korea said it would “mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches" on the nation's sovereignty. It also suggested the UN Security Council may have already “declared confrontation and war.” North Korea's state news agency echoed the statement, saying it was "a matter of time" before nuclear war breaks out "due to the war chariot of the 'South Korea-U.S. military alliance.'" (More North Korea stories.)