Pyongyang accuses Washington and its regional allies of planning an “armed invasion”
Pyongyang has warned of an “overwhelming” navy response after the United States and South Korea unveiled a new “deterrence strategy” aimed on the DPRK, claiming that the US has escalated the “nuclear threat” on the Korean peninsula.
In feedback carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, a Pyongyang navy spokesman responded to high-level talks between Washington and Seoul earlier this week.
“The actions of US military officials in the puppet area… clearly show that the main culprit causing the escalation of the situation on the Korean peninsula is none other than the United States and its followers,” the assertion mentioned, referring to the conferences within the South Korean capital.
The spokesman went on to say that North Korea would develop “more offensive and overwhelming response capabilities” and pursue “visible strategic deterrent military actions.”
The joint safety talks concerned US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and high South Korean navy officers, who pledged to step up nuclear and standard forces as a part of a revised “Tailored Deterrence Strategy” in opposition to Pyongyang.
“Our deterrence commitment to [South Korea] remains ironclad – that includes a full range of our nuclear, conventional and missile defense capabilities,” Austin informed reporters, occurring to tout a number of latest US deployments within the area.
Earlier this 12 months, US President Joe Biden mentioned the Pentagon would improve the “regular visibility” of strategic navy belongings on the Korean peninsula, hoping the transfer would enhance “deterrence” in opposition to the North. Soon after, Washington dispatched a nuclear ballistic missile submarine to South Korea for the primary time since 1981, and later despatched a number of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers, drawing harsh condemnation from Pyongyang.
In its newest assertion, the North Korean Defense Ministry mentioned these strikes had solely escalated the “nuclear threat.”
Pyongyang codified a new nuclear weapons doctrine into regulation final 12 months, declaring that its acquisition of the bomb was “irreversible,” whereas authorizing the first-use of nuclear weapons if an enemy assault is “judged to be imminent.”
North Korea has launched into a sequence of weapons checks since President Biden took workplace in 2021 – together with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) – deeming them a authentic response to stepped-up US-South Korean navy drills within the area. Washington, Seoul and different allies have repeatedly slammed the launches as provocative and unlawful underneath worldwide regulation, and demand their wargames are purely defensive in nature.
READ MORE:
US nuclear bombers shall be first targets – North Korea
