UNITED NATIONS — North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations held a rare news conference on Tuesday to warn the United States that its seizure of a North Korean cargo ship could imperil any future disarmament negotiations between the two countries.

The United States Justice Department authorized the seizure of the North Korean ship, the Wise Honest, after having determined that it was used to export North Korean coal in violation of American and international sanctions. The American move, announced on May 9, came amid rising tensions over continued North Korean missile launchings.

In his brief appearance before the United Nations press corps, North Korea’s ambassador, Kim Song, called the seizure “an outright denial of the underlying spirit” of a June 2018 joint statement between North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and President Trump, in which, among other things, North Korea committed to working toward complete denuclearization.

“The United States should deliberate and think over the consequences its outrageous acts might have on the future developments,” the North Korean ambassador said at the news conference. He also reiterated his government’s demand for the return of the North Korean vessel.