North Korea has rejected a UN Security Council resolution demanding an end to its nuclear arms program. Pyongyang says it will defy the new sanctions and pursue its goal of becoming a full-fledge nuclear weapons state.  Not only did North Korea reject the UN Security Council resolution, it also heaped blame on the United States.

On Friday, the Security Council imposed new sanctions on Pyongyang by tightening financial restrictions and cracking down on attempts to transport banned cargo.

The resolution, the fifth to be approved since 2006, is the latest international attempt to stop the North's nuclear and ballistic missile program.

The move comes after North Korea's third nuclear test on February 12, which sparked regional security tensions and posturing. The test involved setting off a device more powerful than the one used in its previous test in 2009.