Spokesman of DPRK FM Institute for American Studies on Anti-DPRK Sanctions and Pressure

Pyongyang, September 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Institute for American Studies of the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on Thursday as regards the recent controversy over the absurd claims that sanctions and pressure upon the DPRK are a peaceful and diplomatic solution:

The U.S. which is desperately resorting to unprecedented and heinous sanctions to stifle the DPRK and a few countries following it have lately come up with the ridiculous nonsense that tightening sanctions and pressure is the way for the so-called "peaceful" and "diplomatic" solution to issue of the Korean peninsula.

A few days ago, high-ranking officials of the U.S. administration including the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley said all options including military option are available but they are giving priority to the diplomatic solution, and their remarks are misleading public opinion as if the sanctions against the DPRK are a "peaceful" and "diplomatic" means.

Some European countries and a few neighboring countries with no principle are tuning their voice to the claim of U.S. and labeling the sanctions and pressure as a diplomatic means for the solution of the issue of the Korean peninsula. They are trying to justify their despicable acts of taking part in imposing sanctions and pressure on the DPRK as if it was meant for the peaceful solution.

Political and economic sanctions and pressure to completely obliterate the sovereignty and the rights to existence and development of a sovereign state are hardly any different from the act of military aggression, and it cannot be justified as peaceful and diplomatic acts in any case.

In order to counter the inveterate hostile policy and nuclear threat of U.S., the DPRK gained access to everything it needed including nuclear weapons. It would be a huge mistake to think the DPRK would do nothing about the heinous sanctions and pressure against it, let alone the threats of aggressive war from the U.S. and other hostile forces.

The primary mission of our invincible self-defensive military power with the nuclear force that we have developed at a huge cost at its core is to frustrate the military invasion and sanctions and pressure of the U.S. and protect the sovereignty and rights to existence and development of the country.

We will continue to march forward along the road we have chosen without the slightest deviation and we will respond to anyone who tries to stop us with tougher counteractions. -0-