North Korea’s envoy to the United Nations has threatened "all-out countermeasures" if other nations impose sanctions over Pyongyang’s test-firing of missiles.

In an interview with Japanese broadcaster TBS Thursday, Pyongyang’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Han Song-ryol said the missile launches were part of a regular military drill, adding that his country has the right to test missiles as a sovereign state.

Han added that sanctions applied by other countries on the North would be regarded as an act of war.