A North Korean diplomat says his country will not recognize any sanctions placed on the communist state by the U.N. Security Council.

The deputy chief of North Korea's permanent mission to the U.N., Pak Duk-hoon, told reporters in New York on Thursday that Pyongyang remains firm in its stance not to comply with the new U.N. sanctions. He accused the U.N. of attempting to use the sanctions to alter the North’s system and principles.

Pak said the North will continue to function as it always has, with or without sanctions, as Pyongyang has dealt with similar restrictions for more than half a century. He also criticized the world body for raising issue with the North’s nuclear and missile activities while not taking issue with similar programs in other nations.

He reiterated the remarks made at an international gathering in Egypt on Wednesday by the North’s parliamentary chief, Kim Yong-nam, in which Kim said the six-nation denuclearization talks are forever finished.