North Korea criticizes US 'dangerous move'
(Baonghean.vn) - According to Reuters news agency, North Korea on November 20 condemned the US's possible sale of advanced weapons to Japan and South Korea. Pyongyang considered this a dangerous move that would increase tensions in the region and start a new arms race.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean Defense Ministry said Pyongyang would step up measures to establish deterrence in response to the instability in the region, which North Korea said was caused by the US and its allies.
Japan is planning to buy 400 Tomahawk missiles from the United States as part of its biggest military buildup since World War II, Reuters reported. The Pentagon said on November 17 that the US State Department had approved the potential sale in a deal worth $2.35 billion.
The US also recently announced that it has agreed to possibly sell Sidewinder missiles and Standard Missile 6 Block I air defense missiles to South Korea.
“We warn that the more the US gains from its indiscriminate arms sales, the heavier the price it will have to pay for the security crisis,” the North Korean statement said.
Pyongyang has criticised what it calls "military threats" from the US and its allies, saying it will demonstrate "more powerful and overwhelming counter-attack capabilities" in response.
On November 15, North Korea also said it had successfully conducted static tests of "new-type high-thrust solid-fuel engines" for intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), which it said were necessary to enhance the military's strategic strike capability.