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PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea lashed out anew Tuesday at South Korea over a small public protest in Seoul in which demonstrators burned effigies of the North’s leaders, saying it would not hold talks with its southern neighbour unless it apologized for anti-North Korean actions “big and small” and warning that it could take retaliatory measures at any time.

The statement, which was issued by the Supreme Command of the Korean People’s Army, came amid international fears that the North is preparing to conduct a medium-range missile test and also as North Korea marked the second day of festivities in honour of the April 15 birthday of its first leader, Kim Il Sung.

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“The military demonstration… will be powerful sledgehammer blows at all hostile forces hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership,” said a statement on the Korean Central News Agency.

Later in the day, its state media quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman saying North Korea has no intention of holding talks with the U.S. unless it also abandons its hostility against the North.