North Korea has denounced U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell for what it called "reckless remarks."

A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said North Korea is fully ready to cope with whatever stand is to be taken by the new U.S. administration.

The reports followed Powell's speech to the Senate Foreign Relations committee. In the speech, Powell referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as a dictator who fields far more troops than he needs to meet any conceivable threat.

The reports also warned that if the U.S. brandishes a sword, they will counter it with a sword and if it shows good faith, we will reciprocate it.

The reports were carried on Wednesday by the official Korean Central News Agency monitored in Tokyo.

Powell said the Bush administration would thoroughly review the relationship with Pyongyang. He said Washington would take up any openings but without a sense of haste and any deal had to be absolutely verifiable.