Sanctioned By The European Union, North Korea: Despicable And Insane Provocation

Illustration of North Korea. (North Korea Central News Agency-KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korean authorities have condemned the sanctions imposed by the European Union on two of its senior officials. The sanctions imposed earlier this week, which Pyongyang call a despicable political provocation, are the result of an insane way of thinking.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly criticized these sanctions. He called these sanctions a malicious political tool fueled by hatred.

"These (sanctions) are fueled by uncontrolled hatred, coupled with a psychotic way of thinking," a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued by state news agency KCNA as reported by Euronews.

There are also North Korean officials who are the targets of EU sanctions this time around, North Korea's Minister of State Security Jong Kyong Thaek, Minister of Public Security Ri Yong Gil and the Central General Prosecutor's Office.

The European Union accuses them of serious human rights abuses, ranging from torture and arbitrary execution, to widespread forced labor and sexual violence against women.

North Korea has also been accused by the United Nations (UN) of systematic, general and flagrant human rights violations, ranging from torture to extrajudicial killings.

Pyongyang rejects the entire charge against it, calling it anti-regime propaganda.

It is known that the European Union imposed sanctions on a number of individuals and institutions in North Korea, related to human rights violations (HAM) on Monday, March 22.

Sanctions were also imposed on dozens of individuals and entities in five countries, including China, Russia, Libya, South Sudan and Eritrea. China responded to this decision by imposing sanctions on a number of officials and entities in Europe.