North Korea on Monday vowed to "steadily update and strengthen" its nuclear arsenal, rejecting a joint statement by the Group of Seven Foreign Ministers calling for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

North Korea said on Monday it will steadily upgrade and bolster its nuclear armed forces and blamed the foreign ministers of G7 states for infringing on its sovereign rights by demanding the end of its nuclear weapons programme,

North Korea on Monday denounced the top diplomats of the Group of 7 (G7) countries' joint call for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons, threatening to strengthen its nuclear forces both in "quality and quantity.

Top diplomats of South Korea and Ukraine held phone talks Monday to discuss the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul discussed the handling of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine with his Ukrainian

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul sought Kyiv's cooperation in the handling of North Korean prisoners of war during a telephone call on Monday with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul held a phone call on Monday with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and discussed the handling of North Korean prisoners of war, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Cho reaffirmed Seoul's efforts to support Ukrainian people and said Seoul would accept North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine if they wish to go to South Korea,