DPRK blasts U.S. for oppressing other countries through sanctions

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday slammed the United States for using sanctions as a major measure to subdue other countries, calling it a "sanctions doctrine."

A spokesman for the DPRK's Foreign Ministry was quoted by the official news agency KCNA as saying that the United States has always regarded sanctions as a way to implement its aggressive foreign policy and has wielded a sanctions stick against countries that disobey it.

"It (the sanctions doctrine) is a collection of mean methods for bringing into submission those countries and their people courting its displeasure," said the spokesman.

"The U.S. sanctions have become a root cause of unreasonable pressure, inequality, tensions and stand-off in international relations," he added.

The spokesman also called on countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to unite to cope with the high-handed and arbitrary practices by the United States.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner on Tuesday warned that the United States would consider "other options" if Pyongyang continues its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. However, he declined to specify the options the United States is considering,

Also on Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest issued a similar warning. "We're going to continue to ramp up the pressure on the North Korean regime," Earnest told a press briefing.

Pyongyang must choose to rejoin the international community by committing to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and come into compliance with their international obligations, he said.

On March 2, in an effort to curb the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, the UN Security Council unanimously approved Resolution 2270, the toughest-ever sanctions so far against the country for its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and the long-range rocket launch that came a month later. Endi