North Korea uses Cold War history to justify nukes

SEOUL — The Cold War still rages in North Korea.

Pyongyang sees Washington as enemy No. 1 and blames decades-old U.S. threats for making necessary its much-condemned drive to develop nuclear weapons.

A rich vein of propaganda in North Korea contends that it remains at risk of an unprovoked U.S. nuclear attack. Washington and others say brinksmanship is the North’s true motive for continuing its nuclear program.

North Korea’s latest nuclear test in February has led even ally China to support a new round of U.N. Security Council sanctions. A draft resolution is expected to be circulated this week.

The West condemns the North’s nuclear bombs as a serious threat to security. But Pyongyang uses Cold War history to justify its weapons program as a response to what it calls American aggression.