North Korea Condemns IMO Missile Criticism as "Disappointing Clown Show... Unqualified to Mention the US"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, North Korea expressed that it is "unfair" for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to classify North Korea's missile launches as a "threat."

Rim Sung-kwan, Director of the Maritime Safety Department at North Korea's National Maritime Supervision Bureau, said to the external propaganda outlet "Naenara" on the same day, "At a recent IMO Council meeting, the United States and its followers labeled the Republic's measures to strengthen national defense as a 'threat to international maritime safety,'" adding, "We cannot help but feel disappointed by this farce being staged."

Continuing North Korea's existing claim that its missile launches are an exercise of sovereignty in response to U.S. threats, he emphasized, "Our missile launches have never posed any threat or harm to ships, neighboring countries, or regional safety."

However, last month, during the process of a North Korean missile falling near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) within South Korean territorial waters, an air raid alert was issued in Ulleung County. Japan also issued evacuation orders following North Korea's missile launches.

He argued, "The organization's 'prior notification' regulation does not technically reflect the reality of the Korean Peninsula, which is in a state of war," and added, "Especially the United States, which has conducted various nuclear tests, missile launches, and military exercises during the Cold War, has no right to raise this issue." He continued, "It is abnormal for military and political issues to be raised and discussed at IMO meetings, which specialize in strengthening cooperation and technical assistance activities among member states," and said, "If the international organization fails to uphold fairness and objectivity, it will not only lose the trust of the international community but also lose its value of existence."

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