North Korea considers new package of US sanctions a ‘act of war’

North Korea condemned the new package of US sanctions on Sunday, stating that it will consider them an “act of war” and accused the United States of attempting to undermine the success that the two Koreas achieved during the Winter Olympics (WO).

“The two Koreas successfully collaborated and the Olympic Games were successfully held,” reported the North Korean agency KCNA, citing the foreign ministry.

“But the US is bringing a threat of war to the Korean Peninsula with new large-scale sanctions ahead of the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games,” Reuters reported.

“As we have repeatedly stated, we consider any restriction against us an act of war,” the foreign ministry announced.

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US President Donald Trump said on Friday that the US is introducing the “largest ever” package of sanctions against North Korea to compel the country to abandon its nuclear weapons and missile program. These measures target 50 shipping companies that, according to the US government, help Pyongyang evade restrictions previously imposed by the UN Security Council.

At a press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, Trump called for unity “to prevent that brutal dictatorship (North Korea) from threatening the world with nuclear destruction.”

Trump indicated that if the sanctions do not work, the US will move to “phase two” and threatened that “it could be very rough,” AFP reported.

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On Sunday, the North Korean foreign ministry promised to respond to the US “in its own way” if provoked.

“Trump is trying to change us with those sanctions and his hostile words, which shows that he does not know us,” said the foreign ministry, adding, “We already have our own nuclear weapons, a precious judicial sword to protect against such forms of US threats.”

Pyongyang issued the statement a few hours before the closing of the WO at a ceremony attended by Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka and an official North Korean delegation led by General Kim Yong Chol.

Both Seoul and Washington announced that no official meeting between the US and North Korean delegations is planned.