The US and China have engaged in an escalating trade war for months by slapping tariffs on each other's products. In the latest development, China announced a plan earlier this month to impose tariffs on US$60 billion worth of American products.

The newspaper called the latest step a "retaliation" against the US for threatening to impose additional taxes on Chinese products.

"The US is currently threatening China that it will levy additional tariffs on Chinese products, and China stands ready to strongly respond till the end to the US offensive," it added.

The North Korean media's weighing in on the trade disputes came days after US Donald Trump blamed the trade disputes with China for hampering his efforts to denuclearize North Korea.

When he canceled a trip planned by his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang last week, Trump cited lack of progress in nuclear talks with North Korea. But he also blamed the ongoing trade friction with China, saying, "I do not believe they are helping with the process of denuclearization."

Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have been almost deadlocked since their June 12 summit in Singapore as they apparently have failed to find common ground on how and to what speed the North should give up its nuclear weapons program. (Yonhap)