North Korea, Conscious of UN Security Council... Claims 'Self-Defense' After Missile Launch (Comprehensive)

Opposition to Extension of 'Vigilant Storm' Training Period
Rising Tensions on the Korean Peninsula "Blame the US and Namjosun"
Propaganda Media Outraged by 'End of Kim Regime' Expression
"Even if You Want to, It’s a Word That Should Not Be Mentioned"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea has vehemently condemned the extension of the South Korea-U.S. joint air exercise 'Vigilant Storm.' It is interpreted as an attempt to justify their military demonstration as a 'legitimate response,' being aware that discussions about North Korea will take place at the UN Security Council open meeting scheduled for around 4 a.m. Korean time on the 5th.

In particular, North Korea's external propaganda media expressed displeasure over the joint statement announced by Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the 54th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), which mentioned "the end of the Kim Jong-un regime," saying, "No matter how much you want to, there are words that must never be uttered."

On the 4th, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a spokesperson's statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, threatening, "We will never tolerate any attempts by hostile forces to infringe on our sovereignty and security interests and will respond with ultra-strong countermeasures to the end," adding, "The United States must not act recklessly."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asserted, "We have already clearly warned that if the United States does not want a serious situation that harms its own security interests, it must immediately stop the provocative 'Vigilant Storm' joint air exercise."

It continued, "However, the United States responded by forcibly carrying out the aggressive joint air exercise under the pretext of suppressing and preparing for provocations, decided to extend the exercise period originally scheduled until the 4th, and repeatedly engaged in provocative acts such as convening a UN Security Council meeting."

Furthermore, it stated, "We strongly condemn and reject the United States' irresponsible and reckless actions as a serious infringement on the safety of a sovereign state and a shameless challenge to the international community's desire for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," adding, "The military exercises conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea after the United States and its followers colluded to initiate the joint air exercise 'Vigilant Storm' are a just response and a practical warning against hostile provocations."

On the morning of the 2nd, citizens at Seoul Station are watching news related to North Korea's ballistic missile launch. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the rising military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it blamed South Korea and the United States, saying, "It is clearly caused by the United States and South Korea conducting the largest-ever joint air strike exercise, boasting of an 'overwhelming response' against us."

Especially targeting the United States, it argued, "The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is entirely the responsibility of the United States, which is mobilizing regional allied forces to impose unilateral disarmament on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea through sanctions pressure and military threats."

Moreover, it emphasized, "Continuous provocations inevitably lead to continuous responses," and "No matter how the situation unfolds or what unimaginable incidents occur, we will never back down on the path of justice to protect the dignity and sovereignty of the nation and the safety of the people."

Following North Korea's recent successive provocations, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an open meeting at 3 p.m. local time on the 4th at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss the North Korean issue. North Korea's recent statement is interpreted as an attempt to claim that their military demonstration was a legitimate exercise of self-defense against preemptive provocations by South Korea and the United States ahead of the Security Council meeting.

In addition, North Korean external propaganda media have collectively reacted against the phrase "the end of the Kim Jong-un regime" included in the SCM joint statement.

The propaganda outlet Uriminzokkiri said, "Confrontation maniacs and warmongers shamelessly uttered malicious and provocative remarks about the 'end of the regime' of a sacred sovereign state," adding, "No matter how much they want to, there are words that must never be uttered. Any force that attempts military confrontation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be annihilated," threatening further.

Meanwhile, North Korea began provocations on the 28th of last month ahead of Vigilant Storm, and on the 2nd of this month, for the first time since the division, fired ballistic missiles south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea. On the morning of the 3rd, it launched an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) presumed to be the 'Hwasong-17,' and at night, just one hour after Pak Jong-chon, the first-ranked military official in North Korea and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, issued a statement opposing the extension of Vigilant Storm, another ballistic missile was fired, escalating the level of provocation.

Vigilant Storm is a large-scale joint exercise involving about 240 air assets feared by North Korea, including the latest stealth fighters F-35A and F-35B, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance planes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.