North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said on Monday that the United States had declared war on his country.
“The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country,” he told reporters.
“Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country,” he added.
The latest tension broke out after Mr. Trump’s tweet on Saturday.
“Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!” Mr. Trump tweeted after Mr. Ri spoke at U.N. General Assembly on Saturday.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a press briefing on Monday that the idea of the declared war was “absurd.”
“We have not declared war on North Korea,” she said.