North Korea says US drills threaten to turn peninsula into a ‘huge war arsenal’
- The foreign ministry said the military manoeuvres have pushed the situation on the Korean peninsula to an ‘extreme redline’
- It added Pyongyang was not interested in dialogue as long as the US pursues hostile policies
The statement, carried by state news agency KCNA, said Pyongyang was not interested in dialogue as long as Washington pursues hostile policies.
“The military and political situation on the Korean peninsula and in the region has reached an extreme redline due to the reckless military confrontational manoeuvres and hostile acts of the US and its vassal forces,” an unnamed ministry spokesperson said in the statement.
The statement cited a visit to Seoul this week by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. On Tuesday, Austin and his South Korean counterpart vowed to expand military drills and deploy more “strategic assets,” such as aircraft carriers and long-range bombers, to counter North Korea’s weapons development and prevent a war.
“This is a vivid expression of the US dangerous scenario which will result in turning the Korean peninsula into a huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone,” the North Korean statement said.
North Korea will respond in kind to any military moves by the US, and has strong counteraction strategies, including “the most overwhelming nuclear force” if necessary, the statement added.