Seoul (AFP) - North Korea Sunday criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , describing his call for its denuclearization as "dangerous".

During his two-day visit to Seoul, Guterres on Friday expressed his "clear commitment" to North Korea's denuclearization, saying that this is "a primary goal for peace, security and stability in the entire region."

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sun Jeong Sunday accused Guterres of showing "sympathy" for hostile US policies.

"I can only express my deep regret over the remarks of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which seriously lack impartiality and fairness," he was quoted by the North's official KCNA news agency as saying.

He stressed that "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearization is an "assault on the sovereignty" of North Korea.

Washington and Seoul have repeatedly warned in recent months that North Korea is preparing for another nuclear test, which will be the seventh in its history.

"We advise Secretary-General Guterres to be careful when he makes such dangerous statements," the North Korean official said, considering his remarks as "adding fuel to the fire."

Kim Jong Un's regime conducted a record number of weapons tests this year, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, for the first time since 2017.

In July, Kim confirmed that his country was "ready to mobilize" its nuclear deterrence force in the event of a military conflict with the United States or South Korea.