Thursday, July 6 2006 11:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tokyo: A North Korean envoy to the United Nations warned today Pyongyang was ready to take 'all-out countermeasures' if the UN imposes sanctions over its missile tests, Japanese broadcaster TBS reported.

"If sanctions are imposed, all-out countermeasures will be taken," North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Han Song Ryol, said in an interview with Tokyo Broadcasting System in New York.

The envoy also said the launches were a 'regular military exercise,' insisting that North Korea has the right as a sovereign state to test fire missiles.

North Korea said today it would continue to launch missiles and warned of 'stronger' steps if other nations tried to put on pressure on Pyongyang, in a statement monitored by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.