The following statement – provided to NK News on Sunday by the DPRK’s embassy to the United Kingdom – is a response to two February-dated podcasts recorded in Brussels with European Union and European Parliament officials.

The two NK News podcast interviews laid out Brussels’ case for so-called “Critical Engagement” – a combination of strong sanctions and conditional dialogue and limited humanitarian support.

But the London embassy, which is responsible for European Union affairs, responded by saying that people in the DPRK have now “made it clear that they would not wait for the lifting of the sanction” and are prepared to live with sanctions as a “fait accompli”.

Full statement by the DPRK Embassy, London, United Kingdom

The 70-year-long dangerous military threat by the hostile forces against the DPRK, and their blockade and sanctions against the country, which have banned import of even daily necessities, have been an unprecedented pressure and offensive. So the expression self-reliance is in vogue in our country.

The Korean people did not learn to hesitate or waver but to live on their own, deal with enemies and difficulties and defend their dignity and rights in this protracted and harsh environment unprecedented in history.

The schemes of the hostile forces only led them to make firmer their resolution to build theirs into a prosperous country, defend their dignity and defeat their enemies at any cost by dint of their own strength.

They have not only survived but also made leaps forward and achieved prosperity in the drawn-out arduous period.

This cannot but be called a miracle.

The reality of the DPRK, which is becoming stronger, working world-startling miracles and improving people’s living standards day by day in the face of extreme military threat and sanctions, showcases the thoroughgoing spirit of independence of the Korean people.

As they have cherished the Juche idea, which advocates that man is the master of his own destiny and he also has the strength with which to shape his own destiny, as part of their mental qualities, they are increasing the wealth of the country by dint of self-reliance in the circumstance under which others would not exist for even one day.

What is noteworthy is that they made it clear that they would not wait for the lifting of the sanctions.

They made it a fait accompli that they have to live under the sanctions imposed by the hostile forces, and are overcoming all difficulties by forming a solid integrated whole under the unfurled banner of achieving prosperity by dint of self-reliance; this indomitable will is striking the world with wonder.

DPRK Embassy, London, United Kingdom