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North Korea Vows Response Amid US Sanctions and Stalled Diplomacy

North Korea has strongly condemned the latest round of US sanctions targeting Pyongyang over cybercrime-related money laundering. The sanctions hit eight individuals and two entities involved in illicit financial activities. This comes at a delicate time when President Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Kim Jong-un to restart stalled diplomacy. Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence suggests both sides may be preparing for a potential summit next year despite the current tensions.

Key Points: North Korea Slams US Sanctions on Pyongyang Over Cybercrime

  • US sanctions target eight North Korean individuals and two entities for cybercrime money laundering
  • North Korea warns Washington's pressure tactics and appeasement will not work
  • Sanctions come despite Trump's expressed desire to meet with Kim Jong-un
  • South Korean intelligence suggests possible summit after March military exercises
2 min read

North Korea slams US sanctions on Pyongyang, vows corresponding response

North Korea denounces latest US sanctions targeting cybercrime money laundering, warning of corresponding response amid stalled Kim-Trump diplomacy efforts.

"As long as the current US administration has laid out its stance that it will be hostile to us to the end, we will also respond to them with patience and in a corresponding manner - Kim Un-chol, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister"

Seoul, Nov 6

North Korea on Thursday denounced the latest US sanctions on Pyongyang over cybercrime-related money laundering, vowing to respond in a corresponding manner.

The North's reaction came as the US announced on Tuesday that it had imposed sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities for their involvement in laundering money stolen through illicit cyber activities.

The sanctions came even as US President Donald Trump has expressed his wish to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang.

Kim Un-chol, North Korea's vice foreign minister in charge of US affairs, said in a statement that Washington's latest sanctions demonstrate its hostile policy toward the North, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"As long as the current US administration has laid out its stance that it will be hostile to us to the end, we will also respond to them with patience and in a corresponding manner," read the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Denouncing the US for showing its "malicious nature," the North's official warned Washington should not expect its tactics of pressure, appeasement and threats against North Korea will work.

The US sanctions came as North Korea has not responded to Trump's proposal to meet with the North's leader during his latest trip to South Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering.

Earlier this week, the US State Department had also raised the need to seek UN sanctions on seven ships accused of illegally exporting North Korean coal and iron ore to China in violation of UN Security Council sanctions over the North's nuclear and missile programmes.

South Korea's spy agency said this week there were signs that North Korea had been preparing for a possible meeting with the US in time for last week's APEC gathering.

The National Intelligence Service had said that there is a high possibility that the North and the US would hold a summit some time after an annual joint military exercise between South Korea and the US in March next year.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As an Indian watching this, I feel both countries need to show more maturity. The US can't keep imposing sanctions while expecting cooperation. North Korea also needs to understand that cybercrime and nuclear ambitions won't help their people's welfare.
A
Arjun K
The timing is interesting - sanctions right when there were signs of possible talks. Feels like mixed signals from Washington. North Korea's response is predictable though - they always retaliate when pressured. 🇮🇳
S
Sarah B
While I understand the need for sanctions against cybercrime, this approach hasn't worked for decades. Maybe it's time for a different strategy? The ordinary North Korean citizens suffer the most from these sanctions.
V
Vikram M
India has shown how to handle complex international relationships with patience and diplomacy. Both US and North Korea could learn from our foreign policy approach. Constant confrontation helps no one.
M
Michael C
The mention of ships exporting coal to China violating sanctions shows how complex this issue is. It's not just about US-North Korea relations - China's role and enforcement of existing sanctions matter too.

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