North Korea on Monday criticized the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers for demanding it abandon its nuclear weapons. Pyongyang accused the G7 of interfering in its sovereign rights and vowed to expand its nuclear arsenal.
The foreign ministry statement, carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), called the G7 a "nuclear criminal group" that threatens global security. It added that Pyongyang plans to keep advancing its nuclear forces to counter what it sees as external threats.
The G7 ministers, who met in Canada last week, condemned North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and its military support for Russia.