North Korean diplomat: U.S. on path of confrontation

GENEVA — The United States is on the path of military confrontation with North Korea, a diplomat from the isolated country said Tuesday, making clear that the new U.s.-drafted U.N. sanctions that passed the Security Council would not defuse the nuclear standoff.

“The sanctions and pressure campaign by the Washington regime to completely obliterate DPRK’S sovereignty and the right to existence is reaching an extremely reckless level,” said Han Tae Song, who represents the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea in Geneva.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s defense minister, on a visit to Seoul, announced that his country has cut military ties with North Korea, according to a report by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Last month Washington cut or delayed nearly $300 million in aid to Egypt over its human rights record and its ties with Pyongyang.