North Korea threatened South Korea with “final destruction” during a UN meeting on Tuesday in its latest attack against the country’s southern neighbor.
The country’s diplomat, Jon Yong Ryong, added that North Korea could take “second and third steps” following its nuclear test last week.
The remarks were made during a debate at the UN Conference on Disarmament, reports Reuters . Jon Yong Ryong stated:
“As the saying goes, a new-born puppy knows no fear of a tiger. South Korea’s erratic behavior would only herald its final destruction.”
North Korea also issued a warning to the US, saying:
“If the US takes a hostile approach toward the DPRK to the last, rendering the situation complicated, [North Korea] will be left with no option but to take the second and third stronger steps in succession.”
North Korea is the world’s most isolated country. It frequently threatens attacks on South Korea and the United States. According to Yahoo! News , US Ambassador Lauren Kennedy was disturbed by the North’s latest threat. Kennedy added:
“I also was particularly struck by the phrase ‘heralding the destruction of the Republic of Korea’ and find that language incredibly inconsistent with the goals and objectives that this body is intended to pursue.”
The North Korean diplomat did not specifically refer to the nuclear test in his comments. Instead, he said that the country recently took a “resolute step for self-defense.” He described the test as “strong counter-actions to a foreign aggressor.”
Jon Yong Ryong’s comments drew sharp criticism from several countries, including South Korea and Britain. British Ambassador Joanne Adamson called such language “completely inappropriate,” saying the discussion with North Korea is heading in the wrong direction.
This is not the first time North Korea has threatened to attack South Korea, though warnings of “final destruction” are new.
