North Korea’s foreign minister Ri Yong Ho just had a rare press
conference outside the United Nations in New York. And it’s not great.
The diplomat declared that the US has declared war on North Korea. And
he stressed that he hopes the world remembers in the future that it was
the US who declared war first.
“As you already know, for the last
few days, the United Nations sincerely wished that the war of words
between the DPRK and the United States did not turn into real actions,”
he began, according to his translator.
“However,
last weekend Trump claimed that our leadership wouldn’t be around much
longer. And hence, at last, he declared a war on our country,” Ri
continued.
President Trump declared in a speech at the UN last
week that the US stands ready to “totally destroy” the country if
necessary, in response to North Korea’s persistent nuclear weapons tests
and overt threats to US territory Guam. His tweets about leader Kim
Jong-un, who he calls “Rocket Man,” have also worsened tensions between
the US and North Korea.
“Given the fact that this comes from someone who is currently holding
the seat of the United States presidency, this is clearly a declaration
of war,” Ri said at today’s press conference.
“All
the member states participating in the United nations and the whole
world should clearly remember that it was the US who first declared war
on our country. The UN charter stipulates individual member states’
rights to self defense,” said Ri.
“Since the United States
declared war on our country we will have every right to make
countermeasures including the right to shoot down the United States
strategic bombers, even when they’re not yet inside the airspace border
of our country. The question of who won’t be around much longer will be
answered then,” said Ri.
The foreign minister’s comments came just one day after the North Korean government issued an open letter to international leaders condemning Trump’s comments.
It
should probably be noted that North Korea released a CGI video this
weekend showing the country blowing up America’s F-35 and B-1 bombers.
After finishing his statement, the foreign minister left without taking questions. Again, not great for anybody involved.
Update, 2:19pm: The Pentagon has responded to the statement from the North Korean foreign minister.
From
Reuters:
The
Pentagon said on Monday that it would provide U.S. President Donald
Trump with options to deal with North Korea if its provocations
continue, after North Korea’s foreign minister said his country reserved
the right to shoot down U.S. bombers even if they are not in its air
space.
“If North Korea does not stop their provocative actions,
you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the President to
deal with North Korea,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Robert Manning told
reporters.
So, yeah, things aren’t going to cool down
anytime soon.
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