North Korea responds 'overwhelmingly' to new US strategy.
(Baonghean.vn) - Pyongyang has warned of an "overwhelming" military response after the US and South Korea announced a new "deterrence strategy" targeting North Korea, while also criticizing the US for escalating the "nuclear threat" on the Korean Peninsula.
In a commentary published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on November 16, a North Korean military spokesman issued a statement responding to high-level talks between Washington and Seoul earlier this week.
The statement read: “The actions of U.S. military officials in the puppet regime… clearly demonstrate that the primary culprit behind the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula is none other than the United States and its allies.” The spokesperson went on to assert that North Korea would develop “a more powerful and overwhelming offensive response capability,” as well as pursue “clear strategic deterrence military actions.” Joint security talks involving U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and top South Korean military officials have pledged to bolster nuclear and conventional forces as part of an “appropriate deterrence strategy” to counter Pyongyang.
Pyongyang codified its new nuclear weapons doctrine into law last year, declaring that the acquisition of bombs is “non-negotiable” and authorizing the use of nuclear weapons in retaliation if an enemy attack is “assessed as imminent.”
For its part, the South Korean military warned on November 16 that North Korea might test-launch a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) following recent solid-fuel engine tests aimed at advancing Pyongyang's weapons program.
Speaking at a press conference, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun made the above statement, a day after North Korea announced the successful testing of a new high-thrust engine for a new type of IRBM last week. He said the solid-fuel IRBM being developed by Pyongyang is capable of targeting US military bases in Japan and Guam, as well as United Nations Command bases in Japan, which provide crucial logistical support in the event of unforeseen circumstances on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee Sung-jun added that North Korea "is highly likely to conduct a real (IRBM) test in the future." He noted that solid-fuel testing, which is harder to detect due to shorter preparation time, is part of Pyongyang's plan to pursue solid-fuel missiles with different ranges, alongside new short-range ballistic missiles and the Hwasong-18, an intercontinental ballistic missile that it test-fired in April and July of this year. According to the South Korean official, North Korea's missile development "poses a serious threat not only to the Korean Peninsula but also to global peace and stability." He stated, "South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are closely monitoring North Korea's technological development, activities, and potential for various provocative actions."