North Korea's Foreign Ministry has responded angrily to the coordinated sanctions imposed by Japan, the United States, South Korea and Australia over its launch of a reconnaissance satellite.

It issued a statement from its spokesperson on the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday night.

The statement said that "it will apply countermeasures to individuals, institutions and organizations of the US and its vassal forces."

The four countries have imposed sanctions on senior officials of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration, which launched the satellite, and other organizations.

Pyongyang said that "the US and its servants" who are "keen to deprive sovereign states of their legitimate rights" should be the object of sanctions.

The statement further emphasized that North Korea will apply countermeasures to defend the sovereignty and interests of the state, according to the law of the country.

Pyongyang has made comments against Japan, the US and South Korea, which condemned the launch of the spy satellite.

Now by citing individuals and organizations which it could target, North Korea shows clearly where it stands against those countries.