North Korea said Monday it will end a diplomatic communication channel with the United States and hinted at harsher punishment for Americans detained in the country in retaliation for U.S. sanctions that target leader Kim Jong Un.
The U.S. government last week imposed penalties on Kim and 10 other top officials for alleged human rights abuses. North Korea is already sanctioned because of its nuclear weapons program, but it was the first time that Kim has been personally sanctioned. The North called the sanctions tantamount to a war declaration.
On Monday, the North’s state media said it told the United States it will terminate contact through a U.N. channel in New York that allowed diplomats to communicate.
The New York channel refers to a method for North Korea’s U.N. diplomats to communicate with U.S. diplomats in New York. This is needed because the countries don’t have diplomatic ties and their animosities have deepened because of the North’s nuclear and missile programs.
The North also said it informed Washington that it will handle all issues between the two countries according to an unspecified wartime law, including Americans detained in North Korea, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
South Korean media have suggested that North Korea might use the wartime law to hand out harsher punishments on Americans detained in the North.
The North’s actions could complicate U.S. efforts to secure the release of at least two American citizens being held for alleged espionage, subversion and other anti-state activities. One is serving a 10-year prison term with hard labor while the other received 15 years.
North Korea in the past released or deported American detainees only after high-profile Americans visited the country on their behalf. Outside analysts say Pyongyang often attempts to use foreign detainees to wrest concessions from other countries.
The North’s announcement came hours after it made more threats, this time over a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea.
The North’s threat, carried in state media, was typical of past bluster. It came three days after Seoul and Washington said they were close to determining a location in South Korea for the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system to better deal with North Korean threats.
The North said it will take an unspecified “physical counter-action” as soon as the THAAD location is announced. The statement also carried one of the North’s favorite, oft-repeated threats: To turn Seoul into a “sea of fire.” It has regularly warned it would do that since 1994. U.S. and South Korean officials say THAAD only targets North Korea, but China and Russia suspect it could also help U.S. radars detect their own missiles.
South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye said Monday she agreed on the U.S. missile deployment because North Korea has openly threatened to launch nuclear and missile attacks on South Korea.
The two Koreas are divided along the world’s most heavily fortified border. The United States stations about 28,500 soldiers in South Korea.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Arthur Hartsock says
There’s a country song “A little less talk and a lot more action.” We need to communicate with Crazy Kim with a few well-placed missiles. We have some very precise missiles that would take out just their launching pads. Why not test them in real-life situation? I know, then there’s big brother China.
Born in South and proud of it says
A couple cruise missiles up his little pork chop ass will solve the problem. Shows what happens when you have a no balls leader that only draws invisible lines in the sand.
Fred Reo says
Why is Obama not in jail.Please.Someone tell me.
Calvin Harwick says
Because if anybody spoke ill of him they would be called a racist.That is their protection Insurance
Uncle Buck Ofama says
I think Moochelle has the balls in that family. Perhaps Barry could ask to borrow them for a while…course, I don’t know what good they’ll do him; I’ve seen him riding that little girl’s bike, with that sissy-looking helmet, and spindly legs. And kissing all those guys…what’s up with that? I did a search on obama kissing men; I got a couple dozen pictures of him kissing a bunch of guys. He seems to like it, and is into it. He may be too far gone.
David Vranish says
I couldn’t watch the video! I started getting nausea at the very mention of Obama’s name. There is nothing Obama and his crime group could say that would impress me. Nothing! Hillary and the Clinton Crime Family are the same thing! These people are just plain evil!
larry says
What ties are they talking about? Did not know we have any ties with this fat little bastard!
Alvis says
Baby face Kim Jong Un, is a real Ding Dong nut that will eventually cease to be when he sees his own people take down his regime. When you get tired and hungry enough, you will take down the adversary as an act of war, even if you risk your life to do it. It’s going to happen right here in America soon with that Money Face impostor in the White House who has dirtied it up till it has become the Black House.
Justin W says
Kim Jong Un is an insane joke. He is an embarrassment to his country. This is just another attempt for him to hold on to power in a country that is suffering from his gross incompetence.
William says
Send Obama to North Korea and he can kiss unjongs ass maybe then the north will behave and maybe unjongs will decide to keep him there and want the clintons also.
Jim Pom says
For all of you that think a few “well-placed” missiles would solve this problem, remember…China would have a sincere problem with that, and China is the LAST country we want to mess with, and that includes Russia. We probably could take on Russia and win (just not with Obama as prez), but we wouldn’t stand a chance against China…at least not with the present state of our depleted military…think about it!
twykes says
Anyone who goes to n korea is an ass.
The guy is a nut. He just wants
Attention. His missles are useless so
Far and if he keeps killing scientists
He’ll never be a power. I’m waiting for
The day the people overthrow him.
Someone along the way will do it.
Wayne says
That’s great news! Now, send him an American Barber who can fix that mess on top of his head!