SEOUL – North Korea has pledged to continue its “self-defence” efforts, citing an alleged increase in military activities by the United States and South Korea. The announcement came from an unnamed spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, who, through state news agency KCNA, claimed that Washington and Seoul’s actions have left Pyongyang with no choice but to bolster its own defence capabilities.
“The DPRK will further intensify its practical efforts to deter the military threat of the hostile forces and maintain the balance of forces in the region,” the spokesperson said, asserting that the Korean Peninsula is being pushed into war scenarios by the two allies.
The comments follow North Korea’s test of its latest intercontinental ballistic missile, the solid-fuel Hwasong-19, launched on Oct 31. The missile, reportedly one of the largest and most powerful tested by the country, flew higher than previous missiles, soaring deep into space before landing in waters between Japan and Russia. The launch drew swift condemnation from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Europe, as well as from the United Nations secretary-general, who called for restraint and criticized North Korea’s actions.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, defended the missile test as a “self-defence” measure, pushing back against UN criticisms. She added that North Korea’s weapons testing is aimed at balancing regional power and deterring the “constant war plots” allegedly staged by the US and South Korea.
On Nov 1, South Korea and the US conducted joint live-fire exercises using advanced surveillance and attack drones, including Global Hawk and Reaper drones, which dropped GPS-guided munitions in simulated strikes against enemy targets. The drills, intended as a show of force, marked the first time the allies had conducted such exercises together, according to South Korea’s air force.
The escalating tensions and military maneuvers highlight the ongoing volatility on the Korean Peninsula, where both North Korea’s growing arsenal and joint US-South Korea defence exercises remain points of contention.