The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) vowed on Monday to continue developing its space programs for peaceful purposes and bolstering nuclear deterrence for self defense, the official KCNA news agency reported.

"A vicious cycle of confrontation and increased tension is repeating itself on the peninsula owing to the U.S. persistent hostility toward the DPRK," said a spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry.

The DPRK would steadily push forward the space development for peaceful purposes and bolster its nuclear deterrence for self defense as long as the United States continues a hostile policy towards it, according to the KCNA.

The spokesman made the remarks in response to questions about the visit to Pyongyang by Grigory Semyonovich Rogbinov, roving ambassador of the Russian Foreign Ministry for the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula from June 29 to July 2.

During his visit, Rogbinov and his DPRK counterparts had exchanged views on issues of developing bilateral relations and resuming the six-party talks, the spokesman was quoted as saying.

Both sides agreed to cooperate with each other closely to achieve peace and stability on the peninsula and the region through dialogue and negotiations.