South Korea’s foreign ministry stressed that the international community will “never” recognize North Korea as a nuclear power on Monday, after a top DPRK official accused the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) of denying the country’s “constitutional position” as a nuclear weapon state.

The ministry also criticized Pyongyang for “shifting the blame outward” and “perpetuating false and distorted claims” to justify its weapons development despite clear international prohibitions on its nuclear program.

“North Korea continues its nuclear and missile development, thereby destroying the livelihoods of its residents and posing a threat to the peace and stability of the international community, including