N. Korea calls U.S. re-listing of terror sponsor 'serious provocation'

SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea bristled at the United States on Wednesday for re-listing Pyongyang as a state sponsor of terrorism, calling the move by Washington a "serious provocation."

The North's foreign ministry spokesman told its state media that Pyongyang would continue to strengthen its deterrent force against the U.S. hostile policy.

U.S. President Donald Trump put North Korea back on a list of state sponsors of terrorism for the first time in nine years, stepping up pressure on the North to give up its nuclear weapons ambition.

A day after the re-listing, Washington on Tuesday imposed new sanctions targeting Chinese and North Korean entities and vessels suspected of aiding North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

North Korea said the U.S. re-listing is "a serious provocation and a violent infringement upon our dignified country."

"The U.S. will be held entirely accountable for all the consequences to be entailed by its impudent provocation to the DPRK (North Korea)," the North Korean ministry spokesman said.
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