PYONGYANG — North Korea vowed Monday to strengthen its defenses amid concerns the country may conduct a nuclear test as a follow-up to last month's long-range rocket launch. Citing US hostility, Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said in a memorandum that North Korea will “continue to strengthen its deterrence against all forms of war.” The memorandum carried by state media did not say what action North Korea would take to defend itself. However, North Korea has claimed the right to build atomic weapons to protect itself from the United States, which stations more than 28,000 troops in South Korea. — AP
