The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) passed a law on Monday to consolidate the country's status as a defensive nuclear state, the official KCNA news agency reported.

The new law was adopted at a session of the DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly, which in a separate legislation decided to establish a national bureau for space exploration.

The country's top legislative body also re-appointed former premier Pak Pong-ju to the top cabinet post.