North Korea has called for the U.S. to be "reduced to ashes" and Japan to be "sunk" in the wake of new sanctions targeting the reclusive state鈥檚 nuclear weapon ambitions.
Pyongyang was punished through oil trade restrictions among other measures adopted by the United Nations Security Council after the North鈥檚 most powerful nuke test to date on Sept. 3.
However, North Korea remains defiant as its state-run KCNA news agency carried a statement from the authoritarian regime鈥檚 foreign relations body dated Wednesday.
A spokesperson for Pyongyang鈥檚 Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee insisted the nation鈥檚 people are demanding that the U.S. 鈥渂e beaten to death as a stick is fit for a rabid dog鈥�.
鈥淣ow is the time to annihilate the U.S. imperialist aggressors. Let's reduce the U.S. mainland into ashes and darkness,鈥� the English-language statement read, adding that Japan is yet to 鈥渃ome to senses鈥� after the North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile over the country last month.
鈥�(Japan) should be sunken into the sea,鈥� the spokesman went on, also suggesting that 鈥減uppet forces in South Korea should be 鈥渨iped out鈥� for the sake of the Korean Peninsula鈥檚 鈥減roud reunification鈥�.
The South, under the guidance of liberal President Moon Jae-in since May, has failed in its attempts so far to engage North Korea in dialogue and cooperation.
However, Seoul鈥檚 Unification Ministry revealed Thursday that the government is mulling over whether to provide the North with $8 million in aid despite sanctions.
South Korea鈥檚 position is that humanitarian support can be separated from piling pressure on Pyongyang through the Security Council measures.
Amid reports of a rift with Tokyo over the issue, Seoul鈥檚 Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck was quoted by local news agency Yonhap as maintaining that the South has been in 鈥渃lose consultation with countries such as the U.S. and Japan on our government's basic stance on humanitarian aid and other overall policies related to the North鈥�.
By Alex Jensen in Seoul
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr
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