By: The Trek News Desk
North Korea has issued a sharp warning to the United States and South Korea, vowing to take “more offensive action” against what it called rising military threats. The statement came shortly after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived at Busan Port in South Korea as part of joint military operations.
North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang Chol said in a statement released through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday that Pyongyang would defend its sovereignty “by means of powerful strength.”
“We will take stronger offensive measures to protect peace and ensure security through our might,” the defence minister declared, warning that “any threat encroaching on the North’s security sphere will be dealt with directly and decisively.”
Missile Launch and Sanctions Set the Stage
The warning follows North Korea’s launch of a short-range ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast on Friday, a move that came just one day after Washington imposed new sanctions on North Korean nationals and entities allegedly linked to cybercrime and illicit finance operations.
At the same time, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is visiting South Korea, where he attended the annual South Korea–U.S. Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and toured the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.
KCNA accused Washington and Seoul of “conspiring to develop a combined nuclear and conventional weapons strategy”, calling the recent military talks an act of open provocation.
“U.S. Hostility Is Obvious”
In his remarks, Minister No Kwang Chol said, “We have clearly understood that the United States is determined to confront the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) to the end, and we will never shy away from responding.”
He also criticised the recent ‘Freedom Flag’ joint military drills between U.S. and South Korean forces, calling them “an explicit act of provocation against the northern frontier.”
North Korea described Hegseth’s visit to the DMZ as “a direct display of hostility toward the DPRK.”
U.S. Consultations, Japan’s Concern
Japan reported that the missile fired by North Korea landed outside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but described the launch as “a destabilising move” that threatens regional security.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated that the missile test did not pose an immediate threat to the United States or its allies but acknowledged that it underscored “the destabilising impact of North Korea’s actions.”
Washington also confirmed that it is consulting closely with allies and partners to assess the situation and maintain regional stability.
Rising Tensions After Trump’s Asia Visit
The missile launch came soon after U.S. President Donald Trump returned from his Asia trip, during which he expressed interest in meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Analysts say Pyongyang’s latest threat is aimed at signalling defiance amid tightening sanctions and increasing U.S.–South Korean military coordination. It reflects North Korea’s determination to assert its military autonomy and adopt an even more aggressive posture in response to what it views as encirclement by hostile forces.
Source: News Agencies
