(LEAD) N. Korea says Biden 'made big blunder,' warns of 'worse crisis beyond control'
(ATTN: ADDS more info from 5th para)
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Sunday that U.S. President Joe Biden made a "big blunder" after he called Pyongyang's nuclear program a serious threat, warning the U.S. will face a "worse and worse crisis beyond control."
Kwon Jong-gun, director general of the Department of U.S. Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, made the remarks after Biden pledged in his first congressional address last week to work with allies to address "serious threats" from the North and Iran through diplomacy and stern deterrence.
"It is certain that the U.S. chief executive made a big blunder in the light of the present-day viewpoint," Kwon said. "Now that what the keynote of the U.S. new DPRK policy has become clear, we will be compelled to press for corresponding measures, and with time the U.S. will find itself in a very grave situation."
DPRK stands for the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The official also said that the U.S. "will face worse and worse crisis beyond control in the near future if it is set to approach the DPRK-U.S. ties, still holding on the outdated policy from Cold War-minded perspective and viewpoint."
"Diplomacy" and "stern deterrence," which Biden pledged to used to address threats from the North, are "a spurious signboard for covering up its hostile acts" and "a means for posing nuclear threats" to the North, respectively, the official said.
In a separate statement, the North's foreign ministry also slammed the U.S. for criticizing its human rights record, saying it amounts to insulting the "dignity of our supreme leadership."
The foreign ministry issued the statement after U.S. State Department Spokesman Ned Price released a statement last week on the occasion of North Korea Freedom Week, calling the North "one of the most repressive and totalitarian states in the world."
Price also argued the North was tightening its border control under the pretext of fending off the COVID-19 pandemic, but in reality to prevent more people from defecting the country.
In Sunday's statement, Pyongyang accused the U.S. of smearing its nationwide anti-epidemic measures as "human rights abuses" and insulting the dignity of the "supreme leadership in its grave politically-motivated provocation."
"This becomes an evident sign that it is girding itself up for an all-out showdown with the DPRK, and this is also a clear answer to how we should approach the new administration in the U.S.," it said.
It then stressed that human rights for the North "precisely mean state sovereignty."
"The DPRK Foreign Ministry vehemently denounces the provocation from the U.S. as a vivid manifestation of the hostile policy toward the DPRK to tarnish its image and as a crude violation of its state sovereignty," it said.
The North warned that the U.S. will "surely and certainly regret for acting lightly, defying our warnings."

This graphic image shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and United States President Joe Biden. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
S. Korea to allow online permit-free entry for tourists from 22 nations to spur spending
-
Opposition leader calls on Yoon to reject imports of products from Japan's Fukushima
-
DP leader says Yoon should have stormed out of summit with Japan if Dokdo issue raised
-
One-third of senior public officials have over 2 bln won in personal wealth: data
-
Actor Yoo Ah-in appears for questioning over alleged drug use
-
S. Korea to allow online permit-free entry for tourists from 22 nations to spur spending
-
Grandson of ex-President Chun apprehended at Incheon Int'l Airport over drug use
-
One-third of senior public officials have over 2 bln won in personal wealth: data
-
Actor Yoo Ah-in appears for questioning over alleged drug use
-
Change seen among Japanese right wing favoring restoration of ties with S. Korea: envoy
-
Top U.S. general cancels plan to visit S. Korea due to time restraints: his office
-
(LEAD) Grandson of ex-President Chun apologizes to victims of 1980 democracy rising
-
Actors in Netflix series 'The Glory' dating: agencies
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea plans to send weapons, munitions to Russia in exchange for food: NSC
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea's exports down for 6th month in March on falling chip demand