The United States Has Not 'Declared War' on North Korea - State Department

US Department of State East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau spokesperson Katina Adams has commented on the remarks by the North Korean foreign ministers, who said that Pyongyang is at war with Washington and has the right to shoot down US strategic bombers outside its airspace.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has not declared war on North Korea, US Department of State East Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau spokesperson Katina Adams told Sputnik on Monday.

Going further, she stressed that no country is allowed to fire on another nations' aircraft or ships if they are in international space or waters.

"We continue to seek a peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Adams said.

The statement comes a few hours after North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said Monday the DPRK has every right to "take countermeasures against the United States, including shooting down American strategic bombers outside the DPRK's airspace, as Donald Trump declared war" on the Asian country.

The tensions between Pyongyang and Washington have been escalating recently over Pyongyang's nuclear test. North Korea has been continuously performing missile launches and nuclear tests, all conducted in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The most recent test was made on September 15, when North Korea launched a ballistic missile, which flew over Japan before falling into the northern Pacific some 20 minutes after the launch.