The North Korean legislature on Friday sent a letter [text, KCNAWatch] to the US House of Representatives [official website] protesting new sanctions [materials] raised against the country. The letter is a rare communication between the two nations, who do not have any formal ways to communicate. The letter stated [Hill report], “As the U.S. House of Representatives enacts more and more of these reckless hostile laws, the DPRK’s efforts to strengthen nuclear deterrents will gather greater pace, beyond anyone’s imagination.” Condemnation of sanctions and US actions is not uncommon by North Korea, yet this formal approach is not common. In 1984 North Korea also sent a letter to congress, which led to talks between the US, South and North Korea. Some believe [TIME report] that this communication, which came from a recently revived commission may be a move to create possible dialogue between the isolated nation and the greater international community.

Tensions continue to rise throughout the international community in regards to the North Korean actions seeking to obtain functional nuclear missile. In January North Korea [JURIST background] announced [JURIST report] that it would attempt intercontinental ballistic missile test, furthering its effort to show strength to the world. It has been well documented throughout the world that these tests will be denounced by many prominent nations. With some mulling the idea of possible military intervention on the Korean peninsula, the more common rhetoric has been that increased sanctions on the country will force it to comply with the international communities wishes. That is what the United States did in January, when it choose to increase sanctions [JURIST report] on North Korea in regards to the countries violations of human rights.