For Kim Jong-un, US sanctions are an open declaration of war

The North Korean leader has been placed on a US blacklist for human rights violations. Pyongyang threatens to close very diplomatic channel. Washington and Seoul agree to deploy a missile defence system on the inter-Korean border.

Pyongyang (AsiaNews/Agencies) – For North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, new US new sanctions on North Korea are an "open declaration of war".

For the first time, Washington has taken steps targeting Kim directly, accusing him of human rights abuses and violations.

Pyongyang has warned that it will close all diplomatic channels with the US unless the blacklisting is revoked.

US economic and diplomatic sanctions and blacklisting the North Korean dictator follow an investigation by the US Treasury Department.

Congress recently passed a law that gives the department the power to sanction Pyongyang. The Treasury Department estimates that between 80,000 and 120,000 prisoners are being held in North Korean prison camps where torture, executions, and persecution are routine.

Today the US and South Korea have agreed to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system solely to counter an aggressive Pyongyang.

The THAAD system would be able to detect North Korean missiles and shoot them down, but China says it would seriously damage the security interests of countries in the region.

• united states
• north
• south
• korea
• sanctions
• kim jong-un
• thaad
• missiles