The USA Today reports that “North Korea on Thursday called new U.S. sanctions a “declaration of war,” one day after the State Department for the first time named leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses.”  

“The reaction was announced by the Korean Central News Agency, according to Reuters. It was at least the fourth time this year that the recluse nation, which has nuclear weapons, used such language after actions by the United States or South Korea.”  

“The latest comment came after the State Department imposed sanctions Wednesday on Kim and 22 other North Korean officials and entities over human rights violations that include systematic torture, forced labor, extrajudicial killings and rape. The officials were also accused of tracking down and killing defectors who fled the country.”