North Korea's state radio says for the first time that the reclusive state has nuclear weapons.
The radio commentary broadcast Sunday from Pyongyang says North Korea has developed powerful weapons, including a nuclear arsenal, to defend itself against mounting threats from the United States.
Last month, U-S officials said North Korea had admitted to having a nuclear program during talks in Pyongyang. U-S Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said North Korea might have one or two nuclear weapons.
Saturday, official North Korean media warned Japan it has no reason to uphold a ban on test-firing missiles because of recent bilateral disputes. In 1998, a test North Korean missile flew over Japan, shocking Japanese residents.
North Korea is accusing Japan of breaking an agreement over abductees and compensation for atrocities during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
After a visit to North Korea in September by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Pyongyang allowed five Japanese who were kidnapped during the 1970s and 80s to return home for what was expected to be a two-week visit.
Since then, Japan has decided to keep the five and is demanding that Pyongyang allow their children to join their parents in Japan. Tokyo has also said it will not discuss war compensation until other issues are settled with North Korea.
Friday, the United States, Japan, South Korea and the European Union suspended fuel oil shipments to North Korea -- a decision U-N officials say could worsen an already alarming situation of food shortages in the Stalinist state.