US must recognize N Korea as nuclear-weapon state: Pyongyang

North Korea has stated its demand for being recognized as a "legitimate" nuclear-weapon country in the wake of Pyongyang's recent nuclear test.

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman in Pyongyang, who was quoted by the official KCNA news agency as saying on Sunday, mocked US President Barack Obama's "totally bankrupt" policy toward North Korea.

"Obama is trying hard to deny the DPRK (North Korea)'s strategic position as a legitimate nuclear-weapon state, but it is as foolish an act as trying to eclipse the sun with a palm."

The unnamed spokesman said a push for imposing more sanctions following North Korea’s fifth and biggest nuclear test was “laughable,” adding, “The group of Obama's running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable, when their 'strategic patience' policy is completely worn out and they are close to packing up to move out.”

The KCNA said North Koreans were delighted by Friday's test, which came only eight months after the previous one and was almost twice as powerful, at an estimated 10 kilotons. North Korea has vowed to increase its nuclear strike force "in quality and in quantity."

Sung Kim, the US State Department's special representative for North Korea policy, said during his visit to Japan that Washington and Tokyo would work closely in the United Nations Security Council and beyond "to come up with the strongest possible measure against North Korea's latest action."

EA