North Korea: North Korea has strongly condemned the United States’ plan to deploy a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula, warning that it could lead to a devastating atomic conflict. The North Korean defense ministry, in a statement carried out by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), expressed concern over the introduction of US strategic nuclear weapons to the region, calling it a dangerous situation that could escalate military tensions and potentially trigger a nuclear crisis.
The KCNA stated that the US plan amounted to nuclear blackmail against North Korea and other regional countries, posing a serious threat to peace. It emphasized that the United States would be held fully responsible for any unexpected situations that arise as a result of its actions.
The agreement between US President Mr. Joe Biden and South Korean President Mr. Yoon Suk-yeol, reached during an April summit, includes the visit of a US Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine to South Korea. The purpose of this deployment is to enhance the response capabilities to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. However, no specific timetable has been given for the submarine’s visit.
North Korea criticized the US move to sail nuclear submarines, stating that it created an extremely dangerous situation, leaving them no choice but to realistically consider a worst-case scenario of a nuclear confrontation. The statement also mentioned alleged violations of North Korean airspace by US reconnaissance planes and warned of the possibility of shooting down a US strategic reconnaissance plane over the East Sea.
Amidst these tensions, South Korean President Yoon is set to attend an annual NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Yoon aims to strengthen ties with the military alliance and emphasize international cooperation against North Korea’s “illegal acts.” The summit will see the implementation of a new NATO-South Korea document institutionalizing cooperation in various areas, including non-proliferation and cybersecurity.
Mr. Yoon’s discussions on North Korea with NATO leaders could provoke a negative response from Pyongyang, which has criticized increasing cooperation between NATO and US allies in Asia as an attempt to create an “Asian version of NATO” that would heighten regional animosities. Mr. Yoon, however, maintains a stance of seeking peace through strength while remaining open to dialogue with North Korea. The attendance of leaders from Japan, Australia, and New Zealand at the NATO summit also indicates the strengthening ties between NATO and nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
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