North Korea says sanctions don't work to deny its status as nuclear weapons state

North Korea ​denounced a joint statement ​by a group ‌of countries ​monitoring sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang as a "wanton violation of its sovereignty" ‌born out of hostility by the US and the West, KCNA state news agency reported on Saturday. A ‌statement issued this week by the group ‌that includes the US, Australia, the UK and South Korea called on UN member states to fully implement UN ⁠sanctions ​resolutions that ⁠ban the use of North Korean workers and military cooperation ⁠with Pyongyang.

"Sanctions and pressure may work on the ​weak but never on us," KCNA reported the country's ⁠unnamed foreign ministry spokesman as saying. "The stereotyped sanctions racket of ⁠the ​US and the West can neither influence the position of the DPRK as a ⁠nuclear weapons state," the spokesperson said.

UN Security Council resolutions adopted ⁠starting ⁠in 2006 are aimed at ending the North's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programmes.