DPRK calls US relisting it as 'state sponsor of terrorism' serious provocation: official

US State Secretary Rex Tillerson speaks during a press briefing after US President Donald Trump designated the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as a state sponsor of terror at the White House in Washington, Nov 20, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday slammed the United States for relisting it as a "state sponsor of terrorism", calling it a serious provocation and a violent infringement upon the country's dignity.

A spokesman for the DPRK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that since 1979, the United States has been labeling the countries that are not obedient to it as "state sponsors of terrorism" and in 1988, Washington listed the DPRK as a "state sponsor of terrorism" before removing it from the list in October 2008.

He said that the label of "state sponsor of terrorism" is just a tool of American-style authoritarianism that can be attached or removed anytime in accordance with the United States' own interests.

"This is clearly an absurdity and a mockery of world peace and security," said the spokesman.

He said the DPRK values international justice and peace and consistently stands against all forms of terrorism and any sponsorship of terrorism.

"We do not have anything to do with terrorism and we do not care whether the United States puts a cap of terrorism on us or not," he said.

The spokesman said that by doing so, the United States "openly revealed to the whole world its intention to destroy our ideology and system by using all kinds of means and methods."

US President Donald Trump on Monday designated the DPRK as a state sponsor of terror, vowing to slap sanctions on the Asian nation.