North Korea publishes white paper, says South Korea increases risk of war

(CLO) North Korean state media released a white paper on Sunday (November 3), accusing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol of putting the country on the brink of nuclear war through his policies toward North Korea.

The document, compiled by the North's Institute for the Study of the Rival State and published by the state news agency KCNA, criticized Yoon's "reckless remarks" on war, abandoning inter-Korean agreements, joining the United States in nuclear war planning and seeking closer ties with Japan and NATO.

A man holds a notice to suspend tours of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea on October 15, 2024. Photo: Yonhap

The article added that South Korea's increasingly serious military moves would only result in North Korea "accelerating its nuclear weapons stockpile and further developing its nuclear attack capabilities."

Mr Yoon, a conservative, has taken a hard line on North Korea, with his administration blaming the North for raising tensions with its weapons tests.

Pyongyang has recently taken steps to cut off inter-Korean relations, redefining South Korea as a “hostile alien state,” saying unification between the two countries is no longer possible.

Last month, North Korea blew up several sections of road and rail links between the two countries, and satellite imagery shows that Pyongyang has since built large trenches along former crossings.

Technically, the two Koreas remain at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The white paper released on Sunday also listed Mr Yoon's domestic political woes, including scandals involving his wife, which have sent his approval ratings to record lows.

Hoang Anh (according to KCNA, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trieu-tien-cong-bo-sach-trang-noi-tong-thong-han-quoc-lam-tang-nguy-co-chien-tranh-post319734.html