North Korea yesterday formally rejected a UN Security Council resolution that demands an end to its nuclear arms programme, as China called for calm, saying sanctions were not the "fundamental" way to resolve tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Pyongyang said it would pursue its goal of becoming a fully fledged nuclear weapons state despite the sanctions, which aim to tighten financial restrictions and crack down on North Korea's attempts to transport banned cargo.

Tensions are rising after the North's nuclear test last month.

■NORTH KOREA