North Korea warns U.S. about pre-emptive strike 'if necessary'

North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong addresses the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva March 3, 2015. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

GENEVA (Reuters) - North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong said on Tuesday that his country had the power to deter an "ever-increasing nuclear threat" by the United States with a pre-emptive strike if necessary.

His rare speech at the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament drew a rebuke from U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood, who urged Pyongyang to stop making threats and rid itself of nuclear weapons.