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 North Korea's Institute for Rival State Studies and published by state news agency KCNA, criticized Yoon's "reckless remarks" on war, abandoning inter-Korean agreements, joining the US 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 pushing North Korea to "stockpile nuclear weapons at an exponential rate and further develop 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, that 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