▲ This image, provided by South Korea's Air Force, shows a joint air defense exercise between South Korea and the U.S. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

N Korea-US

N. Korea vows 'toughest counteraction' as long as U.S. rejects its sovereignty

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign ministry said Sunday Pyongyang should maintain "the toughest counteraction" to the United States as long as it rejects the country's sovereignty and security interests.

The North's foreign ministry made the remarks as it blamed joint air drills between South Korea and the U.S., according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), days after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed intent to reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"The reality stresses that the DPRK should counter the U.S. with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK and this is the best option for dealing with the U.S.," the statement said.

DPRK stands for the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The report came just days after Trump called Kim a "smart guy" and expressed his intention to again reach out to the North's leader.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]