North Korea threatened late on Tuesday it would take retaliatory measures after the United States suspended much-needed food aid.

North Korea threatened late on Tuesday it would take retaliatory measures after the United States suspended much-needed food aid.

In a statement late Tuesday, the nuclear-armed North said it was no longer bound by a bilateral agreement to halt testing of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.
"We have thus become able to take necessary retaliatory measures, free from the agreement," its foreign ministry said, accusing Washington of hostile acts.

The North also rejected condemnation by the United Nations Security Council, including its ally China, of the failed launch on Friday last week.
"Nothing can stand in the way of (North Korea's) space development for peaceful purposes," Pyongyang vowed.

The launch last week was to have been the centerpiece of mass celebrations marking the centenary of the birth of founding president Kim Il-Sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-Un.

Pyongyang insists its botched satellite launch was not a missile test and did not breach the February deal with Washington, under which it vowed to suspend uranium enrichment and nuclear and missile tests in return for food aid.

On Monday, a Security Council presidential statement "strongly condemned" the launch. It ordered a tightening of existing sanctions and warned of new action if the isolated state stages another nuclear or long-range missile test.