SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea vowed Tuesday to restart its nuclear reactor and to boycott international disarmament talks for good in retaliation for the U.N. Security Council's condemnation of its rocket launch.

Russia, voicing regret over the move, urged Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table. Its Foreign Ministry called the U.N. statement "legitimate and well-balanced," and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said all sides must stick to the current disarmament process. China, North Korea's main ally, appealed for calm.

In Washington, the White House called on North Korea to "cease its provocative threats" and respect the will of the international community. Press secretary Robert Gibbs said that Pyongyang's moves are "a serious step in the wrong direction."

Tags: korea, nuclear, U.N., Pyongyang,

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