SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea criticized the United States over a recent Pentagon report that called it a “persistent” threat due to weapons of mass destruction, and said Wednesday that it would meet any U.S. aggression or provocation with “the most overwhelming” response will counteract and sustainable response strategy.”
Last week, the Pentagon released the unclassified version of its “2023 Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction,” which describes the challenges associated with weapons of mass destruction and methods to address them. The report said that while China and Russia “represent the greatest weapons of mass destruction challenges,” North Korea, Iran and violent extremist organizations remain “ongoing regional threats” that also need to be addressed.
Such U.S. descriptions of North Korea and the North’s angry response are not uncommon. But the latest exchange comes at a time of growing concern that North Korea is pushing for an arms transfer deal with Russia in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
“The United States has just revealed its dangerous aggressive intent to seriously violate the sovereignty and security of (North Korea) and other independent sovereign states by threatening them with weapons of mass destruction, and is realizing its wild ambition to seize global military hegemony,” one said identified spokesman This was announced by the North Korean Ministry of Defense in a statement carried by state media.
North Korea’s military will “counter the military strategy and provocations of the US imperialist aggressor with the most overwhelming and sustained response strategy,” the statement said.
North Korea’s nuclear program has taken on new urgency since the country passed a law last year allowing the preemptive use of nuclear weapons. Since early 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many with nuclear weapons that could potentially target the United States and South Korea.
Last week, North Korea’s parliament added the nuclear law to the country’s constitution, a sign that the North is further strengthening its nuclear doctrine. During the parliamentary session, leader Kim Jong Un called for an exponential increase in nuclear weapons production and said his country should play a larger role in a coalition of nations facing the United States in a “new Cold War.”
South Korea’s Defense Ministry warned in a statement on Wednesday that any attempt by North Korea to use nuclear weapons would lead to the end of the Kim government. It said North Korea’s inclusion of the nuclear law in its constitution would further deepen its international isolation and the suffering of its people.
The Pentagon report cited North Korea’s nuclear law to explain its security threat. The report said North Korea is developing mobile nuclear capabilities that endanger the U.S. homeland and regional allies and partners.
The report also states that North Korea has up to several thousand tons of chemical warfare agents and has the ability to produce nerve, bladder and choking agents. It said North Korea’s potential methods of using chemical agents would include artillery, ballistic missiles and unconventional forces.
The United States and South Korea are responding to North Korea’s advance in nuclear arsenal with expanded joint military exercises and the temporary deployment of American long-range bombers and a nuclear submarine. North Korea describes such steps as serious provocations that force it to further expand its nuclear program.
North Korea’s Defense Ministry said in the statement that the term “persistent threat” was more appropriate for the United States, citing the intensification of its military exercises with South Korea and the deployment of the nuclear submarine, which it said was carrying weapons, ” “big enough to destroy them completely.” a state.”
In September, Kim traveled to Russia’s Far Eastern region to meet with President Vladimir Putin and visit key military sites. North Korea and Russia said the trip was intended to strengthen their cooperation, but neither side provided details.
Foreign officials and experts believe North Korea hopes to obtain advanced Russian technologies to develop spy satellites, nuclear submarines and powerful long-range missiles in return for supplying Russia with conventional weapons gained through the war with the Ukraine are exhausted.