North Korea vows tough response over U.S. sanctions
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 7 July 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, North Korea vows tough response over U.S. sanctions, 7 July 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43c538.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 07, 2016
North Korea has said the new U.S. sanctions targeting its leadership amount to a "declaration of war" and urge Washington to retract the measures immediately.
In a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency on July 7, the Foreign Ministry warned that Pyongyang will take "the toughest countermeasures to resolutely shatter the hostility of the U.S."
It did not elaborate on what this could entail.
Responding to the warning, the United States called on North Korea to "refrain from actions and rhetoric that only further raise tensions in the region."
This week, the United States sanctioned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first time, with the Treasury Department naming him as directly responsible for human rights abuses in his country.
Ten other top North Korean officials were blacklisted.
The measures freeze any property the individuals have in the United States and prevent U.S. citizens from doing business with them.
North Korea had already been under an extensive sanctions regime for its nuclear activities, and the latest move is seen as an escalation of U.S. efforts to isolate the reclusive regime.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
