SEOUL - North Korea Wednesday cited the lessons of Iraq and Lebanon to justify its drive for a strong military to counter "US imperialists."

"In order for any country to defend itself it is important to have a correct view on war, among other things. This can be proved by what happened in Iraq," said Rodong Sinmun, newspaper of the ruling communist party.

"The Iraqi army and people lacked the readiness, fighting spirit and faith that they should struggle against the imperialists in a do-or-die spirit and win victory over them at any cost," it added in an article carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, monitored in Seoul.

"What happened in Lebanon and Iraq prove the truth that a country with weak military capacity can neither defend its sovereignty nor contribute to the peace and security in the world," it said in reference to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and this summer's Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

The paper said that a country "can reliably defend itself only when it manufactures necessary weapons by itself. It is essential to fortify the whole country. This is more essential in case of a modern war where there is no difference between the front and the rear."

North Korea, whose armed forces number around 1.2 million, is embroiled in a dispute with the West over its nuclear and missile programmes. Its test-launch of seven missiles in July prompted missile-related sanctions from the United Nations.

"If the US imperialists dare test its theory of strength against the DPRK (North Korea), they will not be able to escape their final destruction," the article added.

"When the progressive countries and nations of the world firmly defend themselves with their own military power, the imperialists and reactionaries will not be able to perpetrate aggression and war as they please."

Since November the North has boycotted six-nation talks aimed at halting its nuclear programme. The US envoy to the talks, Christopher Hill, said in Beijing Wednesday that the United States and China are having difficulties persuading it to return to the negotiations.

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