PYONGYANG -- The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Thursday urged the United States to withdraw newly announced sanctions over its human rights record, saying it was an "open declaration of war against the DPRK."

The United States has crossed the line and what it did this time is "the worst crime that can never be pardoned," the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The DPRK urged the United States to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the sanctions which "hurt the dignity of the DPRK supreme leadership," and if not, the DPRK will cut off all channels of diplomatic contact with the Untied States.

In addition, the DPRK will take the "toughest measures to resolutely shatter the hostility" of the United States.