MOSCOW, January 23 (RIA Novosti) – North Korea vowed on Wednesday to strengthen its military capabilities and step up its controversial nuclear program shortly after the UN Security Council slapped new sanctions on the country over the December rocket launch, Yonhap reported.

The country will "take physical actions to strengthen self-defense military capabilities including nuclear deterrence," Yonhap cited a statement by the North's foreign ministry circulated by the Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang also pledged to end any efforts at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and to withdraw from six-party talks.

"There will be no more discussion over denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the future although there will be talks for securing peace and security in the peninsula," the statement said.

The announcement came just hours after the 15-member council voted unanimously to approve the 20-point resolution condemning Pyongyang’s recent launch of a long-range rocket and expanding sanctions on six N. Korean entities and four individuals directly involved in the country’s space program.

North Korea launched a long-range rocket on December 12, saying it was intended for putting a satellite into orbit.

The international community suspects the launch was a cover for the development and testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) intended to carry nuclear warheads.