Rumours have been flying on social media following an ominous statement from a North Korean diplomat regarding US relations on Thursday.
Han Song Ryol, director-general of US affairs department at the country’s Foreign Ministry, said the American government’s decision to include Kim Jong Un on a list of sanctioned individuals amounted to a “declaration of war”.
“The United States has crossed the red line in our showdown,” Han said. “We regard this thrice-cursed crime as a declaration of war.
“By doing these kinds of vicious and hostile acts toward the DPRK, the US has already declared war against the DPRK. So it is our self-defensive right and justifiable action to respond in a very hard way.”
Some interpreted Han’s words as the secretive state’s declaration of war with the US, and the rumours soon spun out of control on social media.
Despite what appeared to be an imminent threat from a country with hordes of nuclear weapons, the people of Twitter were remarkably chilled about it, responding with streams of memes.
That’ll show ‘em.
This was all sparked when North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un was placed on a list of 11 people personally barred from conducting business with US citizens in connection with alleged human rights abuses, documented by the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Days later, North Korea cut off communications with the White House and said all dealings between the two nations should be conducted “under war law”.
Despite regular sanctions against the DPRK, this is the first time the USA has personally placed restrictions on Kim Jong Un.