Pyongyang, April 18, SPA -- North Korea said Saturday any sanctions or pressure applied against it following its rocket launch earlier this month will be considered a "declaration of war." In an announcement on state-run television, the country said it was poised for a military response to any moves against it. "The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are always keeping themselves fully ready to go into action any moment to mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK even a bit," it was quoted as saying by CNN. On Monday the United Nations condemned North Korea -- which refers to itself as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK -- for launching a rocket, a move the United States called a "provocative act." Pyongyang insists the April 5 launch was a successful mission to place a communications satellite into orbit. The United States says the rocket's payload did not reach orbit. The U.N. statement says the rocket launch was "in contravention" to a 2006 Security Council resolution that demanded that North Korea not launch any ballistic missiles. It also calls for North Korea and other nations to "comply fully" with their obligations under that resolution, including certain sanctions. The resolution allows for an "adjustment" of sanctions, and Monday's statement sets up a committee to make recommendations on such an adjustment by April 24. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/655702