Seoul (TDI): North Korea’s Defense Minister, No Kwang Chol, warned that Pyongyang will take “more offensive action” in response to the USS George Washington aircraft carrier visiting South Korea and the ongoing US, Korea joint drills.
The warning came shortly after the carrier’s arrival and the start of joint drills. According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Defense Minister said “We will respond with stronger offensive measures against any threats, upholding security and protecting peace through our military strength.”
On Friday, a day before this statement was made, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into waters off its eastern coast. This aggression comes at a time when US Defense Secretary recently visited South Korea for security talks, in which both sides agreed on closer military ties.
Hegseth also visited the Demilitarization Zone between North Korea and South Korea, alongside the latter’s Defense Chief. The North Korean Defense Minister also took note of this and termed it as “a stark revelation and an unveiled intentional expression of their hostile nature to stand against the DPRK”.
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“We have correctly understood the hostility of the US to stand in confrontation with the DPRK to the last and will never avoid the response to it,” No Kwang Chol further said.
The latest aggressive posture by North Korea can also be seen in the context of newest US sanctions against eight North Korean nationals and two entities accused of cyber money-laundering activities.
Hegseth, during is visit, clearly maintained that the close military alliance between the US and South Korea is to primarily deter North Korea.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has emphasized his personal rapport with Kim Jong Un and expressed readiness to revive diplomatic engagement, but to no avail.
North Korea perceives the US presence in South Korea and the military alliance between the two as a direct threat to its sovereignty and national security.
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