North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has ordered the US “to keep its mouth shut” unless it wants to go through “something terrible”. The stark warning comes after the US State Department said it was “disappointed” after North Korea suspended communication hotlines with neighbours South Korea.
In a statement carried by KCNA state news agency, Kwon Jong Gun, director-general for US affairs said: “I am sick of the two-sidedness of the US who is eager to stop the inter-Korean relations when it shows sign of progress, but acts up when it seems to sour.”
He added: “If the US pokes its nose into others’ affairs with careless remarks, far from minding its internal affairs.
“At a time when its political situation is in the worst-ever confusion, it may encounter an unpleasant thing hard to deal with.
“Not only would this be in the interest of the United States, but also be beneficial for a successful presidential election ahead.”
US President Donald Trump faces Democrat nominee and former vice-president Joe Biden in the November election.
James Kim, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said it is unclear at this stage how North Korea could disrupt the US election.
Mr Kim even warned the move could backfire and increase support for Mr Trump from American voters.
He said: “If anything, there’s a chance that provocation may even rally the country around the incumbent.”
The growing tensions between the US and North Korea comes a day before the two year anniversary of the historic summit between the two leaders.
In 2018, chairman Kim became the first North Korean leader to meet a sitting US President when they held talks in Singapore.
Since that landmark summit, the two world leaders have held further discussions in Hanoi and Mr Trump became the first US President to enter step foot in North Korea when he shook hands with Kim Jong-un in the de-militarised zone.
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South Korea remains a key security ally to Washington and is home to more than 28,000 US military personnel.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said he hoped peace could resume in the region and noted June was a symbolic month as it represents to two year anniversary of the first meeting between Mr Trump and Chairman Kim, as well as the 20th anniversary of the first meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea.
He said: “The Secretary-General hopes that all parties use the June anniversaries to redouble efforts to resume talks to achieve sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.”