DPRK warns US of 'counteraction' if new sanctions are imposed

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sunday warned the United States of its "own way of counteraction" if a maritime blockade and more sanctions are imposed as threatened by US President Donald Trump on Friday.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK issued a statement saying that the PyeongChang Winter Olympics are successfully coming to an end due to efforts by DPRK and collaboration by South Korea, while the process of an inter-Korean detente has been launched since the beginning of the year.

"However, on the eve of closing of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the United States is running amok to bring another dark cloud of confrontation and war over the Korean peninsula by announcing enormous sanctions against the DPRK," said the spokesman.

Trump on Friday announced what he called the "heaviest sanctions" on the DPRK. The new sanctions, the "largest-ever" package on the DPRK, will target 56 vessels, shipping companies, and trade businesses.

"Trump has announced new sanctions, the core of which is to completely block the DPRK's maritime trade with other countries," said the spokesman.

The spokesman said the DPRK has stated on numerous occasions that it will consider any type of blockade an act of war.

"If the US ignores all of our sincere efforts for improving inter-Korean relations and for preserving peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as desired by the nation, and doggedly persists instead in provocation against us, we will have a tight grip on the US and deal with it with our own way of counteraction," said the spokesman.

He also warned that if tension on the Korean peninsula again escalates into a brink of war, "all the catastrophic consequences resulting therefrom will be borne by the United States."