In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a senior official from North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of waging what it called an “economic war of aggression” and warned of “strong countermeasures” unless sanctions are lifted.
“We will not sit idly by as the hostile forces tighten their blockade,” the statement read. “If these sanctions are not reversed, the world will witness our powerful and unpredictable response.”
Though the statement did not specify what form such retaliation would take, it comes days after Pyongyang conducted a short-range missile launch, its fourth weapons test this month. Analysts suggest further military activity or cyber operations could be part of its response.
The warning is North Korea’s latest move in a broader effort to shift blame for its worsening economic conditions, which include food shortages, stalled industrial output, and a near-total freeze in legal foreign trade. The regime has long insisted that its nuclear and missile programs are non-negotiable and has framed sanctions as illegitimate and politically motivated.
U.S. officials were quick to dismiss the threat.
“These sanctions are the result of North Korea’s own violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department. “The only path to relief is through denuclearization and genuine diplomatic engagement.”
South Korea also condemned Pyongyang’s rhetoric, calling it “reckless and provocative.” President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration reaffirmed its commitment to regional deterrence in cooperation with the United States and Japan.
Meanwhile, Russia and China—both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council—have recently called for a re-evaluation of sanctions against North Korea, arguing that punitive measures have failed to achieve diplomatic breakthroughs. This has raised concerns in Washington and Seoul that a more fragmented global response could embolden the Kim regime.
“North Korea is trying to turn sanctions pressure into a rallying point—both internally and diplomatically,” said Dr. Hyeon Park, a senior fellow at the Institute for Strategic Peace Studies. “But their threat of retaliation adds further risk to an already volatile situation.”
As diplomatic channels remain frozen and provocations continue, observers warn that Pyongyang may be preparing another significant missile or satellite launch to underline its demands. Intelligence sources in South Korea report increased activity at known missile facilities.
Whether the international community chooses to tighten, ease, or modify its approach to sanctions remains uncertain. But what is clear is that North Korea is once again using threats to test the world’s resolve.