North Korea has blasted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who vowed a resolute response to the North's provocations.
 
In a statement issued by a spokesperson for its foreign ministry on Wednesday, North Korea warned that if the current U.S. administration plans to apply more pressure on the North, the North also has the capability and means to reciprocate.
 
The statement added that the more Washington provokes Pyongyang, the more painfully the North will respond.
 
It said the tendency of its military and its people is to strike with a sword if an enemy draws a knife and to attack with a tank in the face of a gun.
 
Kerry said Monday that North Korea’s recent test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile was provocative and a violation of United Nations' and international standards.