North Korea on Sunday lashed out at the South's remark earlier this month that it could launch a preemptive strike against Pyongyang's nuclear facilities, calling the comment 'a declaration of war."

South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said last week that Seoul would have to strike first, if there were clear signs that North Korea was preparing a nuclear attack.

North Korea's official news agency KCNA reported that the North would regard the scenario of 'a preemptive strike" adopted by Seoul as an open declaration of war and that the North's military "will take prompt and decisive military actions" against any attempt of the South to violate "our dignity and sovereignty."

Tensions between the two nations intensified after the reclusive communist regime withdrew from six-party talks on its nuclear program last April following worldwide condemnation of its missile tests.

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution imposing further sanctions on North Korea for missile tests and an underground nuclear test in early June 2009.

SEOUL, January 24 (RIA Novosti)