DPRK denounces U.S. Congress for passing bills on escalating economic sanctions

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday denounced the U.S. Congress for passing bills on escalating economic and financial sanctions against Pyongyang, saying it would only "harden the retaliatory will" of the DPRK army and people.

The new measures taken by the U.S. Congress against the DPRK were the products of die-hard conservative forces of the U.S. steeped in inveterate repugnance and hostility toward the country, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry was quoted by the Korean Central News Agency as saying.

On March 29, the International Relations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a "bill on escalating sanctions with respect to transactions relating to North Korea (the DPRK)," a "bill on re-listing the DPRK as a terror-sponsor" and "resolutions denouncing the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) development of North Korea."

On March 31, the U.S. Treasury Department announced what it called a list of targets of additional sanctions, the spokesman recalled.

"The reckless actions taken by the U.S. Congress and Treasury Department against the backdrop of U.S.-led joint military drills for aggression are driving the tense situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of a war," he said.

"It only hardens the retaliatory will of the army and people of the DPRK to settle accounts with the U.S. to the end," he added. Endi