DPRK nuclear, missile developers vow to continue bolstering nuke force

PYONGYANG, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nuclear and missile developers of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have vowed to continue bolstering the country's nuclear force "in quality and quantity," the state media said Thursday.

"National defense scientists and technicians will ... further strengthen the state nuclear force in quality and quantity," the DPRK's nuclear and missile developers said in a pledge letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The letter was addressed to the country's top leader Kim Jong Un and read out at an oath-taking ceremony during the national conference on arsenals construction on Wednesday.

The DPRK said it has completed building a nuclear strike force with the successful test firing of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile called "Hwasong 15," which is said to be capable of striking the entire mainland of the United States.

The DPRK is under tough United Nations sanctions for its nuclear and missile programs and Pyongyang has blamed the United States for trying to stifle its economy and deprive it of its right of existence through the sanctions. Enditem