N Korea envoy says sanctions are declaration of war

SEOUL, July 7 (Reuters) North Korea considers sanctions against it as a declaration of war, its deputy ambassador to the United Nations was quoted as saying by South Korea's Yonhap news agency late today.

Han Song-ryol's comments repeat Pyongyang's previous position but come as the U.N. Security Council discusses possible sanctions after the North fired seven missiles on Wednesday, including a long-range Taepodong-2, which failed.

''There is no change to our position that sanctions against the North will be considered an act of war,'' Han said was quoted as saying. ''If sanctions are invoked, we will take strong and full counter measures,'' he said without elaborating.

North Korea will be able to return to stalled six-country talks on ending its nuclear programmes if the United States lifts a freeze of its assets at a Macau bank, Han was quoted as saying by Yonhap.

US authorities have frozen about 20 million dollars in North Korea's funds at Banco Delta Asia in Macau on suspicion the money was linked to Pyongyang's cross-border illicit financial activities, such as counterfeiting.

North Korea has refused to continue the six-way talks, which also involve South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and China since November, saying the US financial crackdown proved Washington's hostility against it and made the talks pointless.

REUTERS SY PM2254