Thursday, February 2, 2023 11:41 (GMT+7)
(CPV) – On February 2, North Korea said it would have the “toughest response” to US moves to expand joint military exercises with South Korea.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the United States of pushing the security situation on the Korean Peninsula to an “extreme red line” and escalating tensions by expanding the scope and scale of its joint military exercises with South Korea. The ministry warned that this was clear evidence of the dangerous scenario pursued by the United States that would turn the Korean Peninsula into a huge arsenal of war weapons and a serious conflict zone.
“The DPRK will make the toughest response to any military effort by the US in accordance with the principle of ‘nuclear weapon for nuclear weapon and all-out confrontation for all-out confrontation,’” the statement said. “If the US continues to send strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding areas, the DPRK will more clearly demonstrate its deterrence activities according to these assets.”
"The DPRK has no interest in any contact or dialogue with the US as long as it pursues its hostile policy and confrontational path," the statement added.
The statement came hours after South Korea and the United States kicked off their first joint air exercise of 2023 over the Yellow Sea. The exercise involved B-1B strategic bombers, F-22 and F-35B stealth fighters from the US Air Force, and F-35A fighters from the Republic of Korea Air Force.
The two allies also plan to hold simulated military exercises this month to bolster their extended deterrence capabilities. The concept of “extended deterrence” refers to the US commitment to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend allies against threats.
Earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Seoul to meet with his South Korean counterpart, pledging to deploy additional strategic assets, including F-22 and F-35 jets, to South Korea to “deter” the growing military threat from North Korea.
These developments have sent signals that the situation on the Korean Peninsula will continue to be complicated after a turbulent 2022. Responding to North Korea's latest warning, the South Korean Unification Ministry once again reiterated its call for North Korea to refrain from actions that increase tensions and return to the negotiating table.
Earlier, on February 1, in New York (USA), South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the situation in North Korea. On this occasion, the UN chief expressed his support for efforts towards sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula./.
T.Lan (According to foreign press)
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