PYONGYANG-- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday blasted the Republic of Korea (ROK) for supporting the establishment in Seoul of a new UN office monitoring human rights performance of the DPRK.

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) condemned in a statement the setting up of the UN human rights office, saying it was the most hideous political provocation against the DPRK.

It was "a blatant challenge to the dignity and social system of the DPRK and an open declaration of war against it," the statement said.

The statement slammed ROK's President Park Geun-hye for staging "a foul confrontation racket in total ignorance of the DPRK's magnanimity and sincerity" regardless of the public opinions among all Koreans calling for improved inter-Korean relations at an earlier date.

"This is a never-to-be-condoned treachery," the CPRK said.

Meanwhile, the statement condemned the UN human rights office as "an illegal, plot-breeding tool the US and its followers invented by abusing the name of the UN with an aim to stifle the DPRK."

The office would become "a target of merciless strike" once it was launched, it warned.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, On Tuesday declared open the new UN human rights office in the ROK's capital of Seoul, despite the strong opposition and warnings from Pyongyang.