North Korea warns US against issuing tough economic sanctions

Pyongyang said it could revert to its former policy of developing nuclear weapons if the US does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime. [Photo: AFP]

North Korea has warned the United States it will "seriously" consider returning to a state policy aimed at building nuclear weapons if Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime.

For years, the North had pursued a "byungjin" policy of simultaneously developing its nuclear capabilities alongside the economy.