North Korea denounces US sanctions, but remains cautious

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, D.C., in this file photo from May 2021. AP-Yonhap

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - North Korea strongly denounced the latest sanctions imposed by the U.S., vowing to take responsive measures "with patience," state media reported on Thursday.

"The [U.S.] has clarified its stand to be hostile towards the [North] to the last, we will also take proper measures to counter it with patience for any length of time," the state-run [North] Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, quoting Kim Un-chol, the isolate country's vice-minister for U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, as saying.

Washington again revealed its "wicked nature to be hostile toward the [North]," KCNA added, lamenting that it still clings to the "obsolete scenario of the failed past."

The denouncement came after the U.S. Department of the Treasury earlier this week sanctioned eight North Korean individuals and two entities allegedly involved in cyber fraud and other illicit money-laundering schemes.

The U.S. Department of State also said it will seek UN sanctions in the coming days on seven North Korean vessels suspected of illegally exporting coal and iron ore to China.

But the North's relatively toned-down condemnation appears to reflect a cautious approach, as those sanctions came despite President Donald Trump's repeated overtures to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.