U.S would face “grave consequences” after 3 N Korean diplomats mugged at JFK
North Korea said the United States would face “grave consequences” after three of its diplomats were reportedly mugged at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
North Korea’s state news agency (KCNA), accused the United States of being “gangsters” and said U.S. officials removed a package from the diplomats, said to contain a diplomatic certificate.
An article in the state-run news site said: “The U.S. literally mugged a delegation of the Democratic people’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) diplomats at the airport” and they “behaved like a lawless, gangster state.” Quoted from (Newsweek).
The news agency also said the mugging was “an illegal and heinous act of provocation.” North Korea promised retaliation, warning that there would be “grave consequences” for the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said officials had confronted three North Koreans at the airport, but said the suspects were not associated with the United Nations. The North Koreans were not allowed to board their plane.
Tension between the two countries has grown in recent weeks, as missile testing from North Korea has increased, while the United States has fought to have several of its citizens being held by the North Korean state released. Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old student, was released last week back to the United States, but now he is dead.