North Korea claims US authorities ‘literally mugged’ its diplomats at JFK Airport

NORTH Korea has lashed out at the US after making bizarre claims that a delegation of its diplomats were mugged by authorities at JFK Airport.

North Korea claims its diplomats were mugged at JFK Airport. Picture: AFO. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR

NORTH Korea has claimed that a delegation of diplomats got “literally mugged” by American authorities at JFK Airport, slamming the US as a “felonious and lawless gangster state”.

The New York Post reports a spokesman for the hermit kingdom’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US of forcibly seizing a “diplomatic package in “an illegal and heinous act of provocation.”

“This mugging act of the US serves as a graphic account telling the world how reckless and despicable the US hostile policy towards the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has become,” according to a statement released through North Korea’s official news agency.

The rogue nation threatened unspecified “grave consequences” if the US failed to provide “a good explanation of its act of infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK and an official apology on behalf of the US government.”

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North Korea claims its diplomats were mugged at JFK Airport. Picture: AP

It also said the purported Friday incident “clearly shows that the US is a felonious and lawless gangster state.”

“The international community needs to seriously reconsider whether or not New York, where such an outrageous mugging is rampant, is fit to serve as the venue for international meetings,” the statement said.

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North Korea said its envoys were confronted by more than 20 cops and Homeland Security officers who used “physical violence” to snatch the package even though the diplomats had “a valid diplomatic courier certificate.”

North Korea did not detail the contents of the package.

It comes amid mounting fears of the rogue nations missiles capability. Picture: AFP

The accusations came amid mounting tensions over North Korea’s repeated testing of ballistic missiles, and controversy over last week’s release of ailing former University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier after 17 months in captivity.

Warmbier — who was sentenced to 15 years at hard labour for allegedly stealing a political poster from a restricted floor of a North Korean hotel — was sent home to Ohio with severe brain damage, which North Korea blamed on his contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill following his trial in March 2016.

A spokesman for the Port Authority, which runs the airport, said its police department was not involved in whatever happened Friday and referred questions to federal police.

North Korea has been reprimanded on its repeated missile tests. Picture: AP

The White House and Homeland Security Department didn’t immediately respond to inquiries, and City Hall declined to comment.

But US Rep. Pete King (R-LI) dismissed North Korea’s claims.

“Whether or not the North Korean account is entirely accurate, their treatment of American student Otto Warmbier takes away North Korea’s right to complain about anything,” King said.

“Besides, North Korea is known the world over for using diplomatic pouches for illicit smuggling. If anything, this was good police work.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a photo session with the participants in the 8th Congress of the Korean Children's Union in Pyongyang. Picture: AFP

City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said of the North Koreans: “Given their explanation of Warmbier’s condition, I wouldn’t rush to judgment.”

“That said, considering the entire North Korean national budget is less than the NYPD’s alone, I’m not sure they’re in a position to volunteer their hosting services” to the UN, he added.