Pyongyang: North Korea announced on Saturday its commitment to enhancing what it describes as self-defense capabilities, asserting that U.S. and South Korean actions are escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In a statement released by the state news agency KCNA, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed that North Korea, formally known as the DPRK, has “no choice” but to continue bolstering its defensive measures.
“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 unnamed spokesperson stated. The official criticized Washington and Seoul for allegedly orchestrating “more than 20 war plots” this year, suggesting these maneuvers leave Pyongyang with no option but to prepare against the perceived nuclear threat.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a separate statement condemning recent remarks by the UN Secretary-General criticizing North Korea’s missile launches. Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s stance that its weapons tests are conducted for “self-defense”.
On Thursday, North Korea tested its Hwasong-19, a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) designed to demonstrate its advanced missile capabilities. This launch marked North Korea’s most powerful test to date, with the missile reaching unprecedented altitudes before splashing down in the waters between Japan and Russia. According to tracking from both South Korean and Japanese military officials, the missile’s trajectory soared higher than any previous North Korean test.
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The recent ICBM launch follows reports of North Korea dispatching troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine—a move that has drawn swift condemnation from the United States, South Korea, Japan, and European allies, along with disapproval from the United Nations.
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Meanwhile, on Friday, the South Korean and U.S. air forces conducted their first-ever joint live-fire drills. These exercises involved the Global Hawk and Reaper drones, which deployed GPS-guided munitions in simulated attacks on enemy targets, according to South Korea’s air force.
