North Korea warns South Korea will become 'bulletproof shield' for US

A North Korean missile leaves the launch pad. Illustration photo: KCNA

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on August 14 published an editorial warning South Korea that allowing the US to place intermediate-range missiles on its territory would be viewed by Pyongyang as a "reckless act that would escalate tensions" in the region.

Earlier this month, the US officially withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia and announced it would test new missiles and place them around the world, according toYonhap

Later, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that Washington planned to place missiles in Asia and elsewhere to maintain US deterrence. Some speculated that South Korea could be one of the places the US was targeting.

In the editorial,KCNAwarned that if South Korea agrees to the US proposal, Seoul is on the path "to destruction" and could turn them into "bulletproof shields".

“That would be a reckless move that would further escalate regional tensions, one that could trigger a new Cold War,” the editorial said.

South Korea is currently home to the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, located 300 km from Seoul, to counter the threat from Pyongyang's missiles. South Korea allowed the US to deploy THAAD on its territory in 2017 despite opposition from China and North Korea.

“Korea should act before it is too late and think about what blind action will lead to,”KCNAwarning.

NewspaperRodong SinmunNorth Korea's state-run news agency also published a similar editorial, warning that the deployment of intermediate-range missiles would be a "challenge" to those who want peace in the region.

Previously, the South Korean Defense Ministry said that they had not had any discussions with the US about whether to place medium-range missiles in the country.