:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/P2K6FBX45NF33HO2QE3BD26UII.jpg "North Korea warns of “stronger” reaction after new US sanctions")
North Korea He warned this Friday of a “stronger and more determined” reaction on his part after the decision to U.S to impose new sanctions on top North Korean officials following its latest missile test this week.
In a statement published by the state news agency KNCA, a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry points out that the recent test of a hypersonic missile was “an exercise of its right to self-defense” and criticized Washington’s attitude.
North Korea says its latest ballistic missile test was launched from a submarine
“If the US adopts such a confrontational stance, the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, official name of the North) will be forced to take a stronger and more determined reaction,” warned the Asian country’s Foreign Ministry.
The administration of US President Joe Biden on Wednesday sanctioned six senior North Korean officials linked to the country’s weapons development program, a decision that came two days after the regime made its third test of a hypersonic missile, and the second in less than a week.
“The recent development of new types of weapons by the DPRK is only part of its efforts to modernize its national defense capabilities,” added the North Korean spokesman, who said the launch “did not target any specific country or force and it did not harm the security of neighboring countries.”
The projectile fell into the waters of the Sea of Japan, called the East Sea on the Korean peninsula.
Pyongyang called Washington’s reaction “blatant provocation” and accused the country of having “gangster-like logic” and “intentionally” escalating the situation.
“This shows that although the current US administration is touting diplomacy and dialogue, it is still engrossed in its policy of isolating and suffocating the DPRK,” which “will not give up its just right” to defense, he added.
North Korea has been testing a number of new weapons since nuclear talks with the US stalled after their failed Hanoi summit in February 2019.
The Biden Administration adopted the new sanctions on senior North Korean officials in the wake, he said, of the launch of six ballistic missiles during the past four months, evidence that violates the resolutions of the United Nations (UN) National Security Council.
North Korea restores its direct communication lines with the South
The sanctions imply that all the properties and interests of these individuals in the US become blocked and US citizens are prohibited from having commercial or financial transactions with those sanctioned.
The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has indicated that Washington is pressing for the Security Council to impose additional sanctions on North Korea.