DIRECTOR GENERAL OF DEPARTMENT OF U.S. AFFAIRS OF FM INTERVIEWED BY CHIEF OF AP PYONGYANG BUREAU

Pyongyang, July 28 (KCNA) -- The director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK Thursday was interviewed by the chief of AP Pyongyang Bureau on a visit to the DPRK on the recent situation on the Korean peninsula. Answering the question as to the situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula, the director general clarified that it is the DPRK's just right to take the toughest counteraction against the U.S. as it went beyond the "red line" in the standoff with the DPRK and declared a war against the DPRK by daring hurt the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK. The U.S. recent moves such as ceaseless introduction of strategic assets to the vicinity of the Korean peninsula and decision to deploy THAAD in south Korea hint that it will stage unprecedented maneuvers during the joint military drill to be held in August, he said, clarifying that if an undesirable event occurs on the peninsula during the joint military drill, the U.S. would be held wholly responsible for it and that the DPRK is fully ready for any physical steps. He stressed that the DPRK will continue to take the tough counteraction against the U.S. unless it rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK aiming at "bringing down its social system."