North Korea vows "all out action" against United States, seeks further nuclear testing

North Korea has declared it is pursuing further development of ballistic weapons despite sanctions

North Korea is at it again: the defiant country on Wednesday called the United States its “sworn enemy” and promised to continue testing nuclear weapons and rockets against U.S. wishes. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un went on to imply that the country would begin to ramp up its efforts to target the United States militarily.

The tests, according to North Korean statements aired over its public airwaves, are only a prelude to “upcoming all-out action” against the United States. North Korean officials say that defiance against the United States will become a larger part of North Korea’s foreign policy.

“Settling accounts with the U.S. needs to be done with force, not with words as it regards jungle law as the rule of its survival,” said North Korea’s National Defense Commission in a statement. “We are not disguising the fact that the various satellites and long-range rockets that we will fire and the high-level nuclear test we will carry out are targeted at the United States.”

North Korea’s aggressiveness is likely the result of a UN resolution, backed by the United States, which tightened sanctions on North Korea after the country successfully tested a rocket last month in violation of previous sanctions. The United States was particularly alarmed by the rocket launch because it indicated that North Korea’s weapons technology was advancing despite the pressure of increasing sanctions.

At the time of the launch, in December 2012, North Korean officials were adamant that the rockets were part of a peaceful space program, but Washington was concerned the tests were a cover for testing of long-range ballistic missiles. The statement released this week suggests North Korea is being more honest about its intentions to test weapons in order to target the United States.

The statement admits that all further testing will “orientate toward the purpose of…foiling the U.S. and all other hostile forces’ maneuvers.”

Deputy spokeswoman for the South Korean Unification Ministry, Park Soo-jin, told CNN the new stance by North Korea is concerning.

“North Korea should immediately stop its nuclear test and other provocation and should choose a different path by cooperating with the international community,” Park said.

As of right now, that doesn’t seem probable.