NKorea slams latest US sanctions as ‘act of war’
SEOUL: North Korea on Sunday slammed the latest US measures US President Donald Trump announced the “heaviest sanctions ever” on the nuclear-armed regime.
- ington says are aimed at forcing Pyongyang to roll back its banned target more than 50 North Korea and trade businesses.
we consider any restrictions on us - eign ministry said in a statement carried by the state- run KCNA news agency.
It also vowed a retaliation if the US “really has the nerves” to confront the North in a “rough” manner.
the US would “go to phase two” without elaborating.
vowed to “subdue the US in our “Trump is trying to change us with such sanctions and hostile re about us.”
“We already have our own nuclear weapon - a treasured sword of justice to protect us from such ministry said.
The comment came hours before the North’s senior delegation - attend the closing ceremony of the will also be attended by Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump.
The blacklisted North Korean general arrived in the South on Sunday for the Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
eight-member high-level delegation that crossed the Demilitarized piece of the Games-led diplomacy that has dominated headlines from Pyeongchang.
The nuclear-armed North has gone on a charm offensive over cheerleaders and performers and with leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong attending the opening ceremony.
Analysts say it is seeking to loosen the sanctions imposed against it over its banned nuclear - ing to weaken the alliance between Seoul and Washington.
But Kim Yo Jong had no interaction with US Vice President Mike even though they were just a few seats apart in the same VIP area. meeting between the delegations from Washington and Pyongyang the following day was cancelled at short notice by the North Koreans.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in - who has long pushed for engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table - also did not immediately accept an invitation passed on by Kim Yo Jong from her brother to a summit conditions must be created.
approach to Pyongyang as “maxi announced a series of new sanctions on Friday.
Pence also condemned Kim Yo Jong as part of an “evil family prompting a denunciation from Pyongyang on Sunday - which said it would not talk to the Trump administration for “even 100 years or
Overnight protest
Kim Yong Chol’s delegation was minister Chun Hae-sung.
was later seen checking into the Walkerhill luxury hotel in Seoul with other delegates and leaving a few hours later amid heavy security involving hundreds of police
Kim’s nomination as the leader of the group is controversial in the for a spate of attacks including the torpedoing of Seoul’s Cheonan war Pyongyang denies responsibility.
Conservative lawmakers staged an overnight protest near the hundreds of other activists.
The protesters waved banners including “Arrest Kim Yong Chol!” and “Kim Yong Chol should kneel in front of the victims’ families and apologize!”
Kim is blacklisted under Seoul’s unilateral sanctions against the an assets freeze.