Seoul, Oct 17, SPA -- North Korea on Tuesday blasted U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing the country for its nuclear test, saying the measures amount to a declaration of war and that the nation wouldn't cave in to such pressure now that it's a nuclear weapons power. The North broke two days of silence about the U.N. resolution adopted after its Oct. 9 nuclear test, by issuing a Foreign Ministry statement on its official Korean Central News Agency. "The resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of a war" against the North, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The North warned it "wants peace but is not afraid of war" and that it would "deal merciless blows" against anyone who violates its sovereignty.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/396680