US denies declaring war against N Korea

The United States on Monday denied North Korea's claims that President Trump's tweet amounted to declaration of war.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders dubbed the claim "absurd" and clarified that Washington had not "declared war" on Pyongyang.

The Trump administration also asserted that North Korea misconstrued US President's tweet that Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer," as declaration of war.

The escalating rhetoric comes at a time when the tensions between the two countries are all-time high.

The denial comes post North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho's words.

The minister said that the United States President Donald Trump has declared war and Pyongyang reserves the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down the U.S. strategic bombers.

Trump added North Korea to the list of countries in the new travel ban order announced on Sunday.

Trump had announced on Thursday that the new U.S. sanctions will allow targeting the companies and institutions, which finance and facilitate trade with North Korea.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted its ninth round of sanctions on Pyongyang to counter its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.

Recently, North Korea conducted its sixth most powerful nuclear test on September 3, attracting UN sanctions and criticism from the international community.

Under Kim Jong Un's leadership, Pyongyang carried out several intercontinental ballistic missile tests, including 20 missile tests in 2016.