North Korea "U.S. Hostility Toward North Korea Considered a Declaration of War" (Comprehensive)

Kwon Jung-geun, Director of the U.S. Department at North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Statement
"Give Up Deploying Strategic Assets to Break the Vicious Cycle"

North Korea fired a verbal bomb at the United States, demanding the abandonment of the deployment of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula and stating that it would be considered a declaration of war.

On the 24th, Kwon Jung-geun, Director of the U.S. Affairs at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency, "Despite our repeated protests and warnings, if the United States continues its hostile and provocative practices against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, it must remember that this could be considered a declaration of war against our country."

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea [Image source=Yonhap News]

Director Kwon argued, "The only way to prevent the vicious cycle of escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas is for the United States to abandon its commitment to deploy strategic assets to South Korea and to show clear actionable stances such as halting various joint exercises under different pretexts against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

In particular, regarding the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convening a meeting to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, he warned, "We remind once again our position that if the UNSC continues to be led by the United States and puts our right to self-defense on the table, corresponding strong countermeasures will follow."

This statement from North Korea, which even mentioned a 'declaration of war,' appears to be aimed at the Extended Deterrence Strategy Tabletop Exercise (DSC TTX) held at the Pentagon on the 22nd (local time) and the upcoming joint exercise "Freedom Shield (FS)" scheduled for mid-next month. Especially, the mention of 'withdrawal of strategic assets' suggests a reaction against the U.S. deploying B-1B strategic bombers and other assets to the Korean Peninsula whenever North Korea carries out military provocations.

Additionally, North Korea has been focusing on the UN Security Council this year, questioning its 'fairness.' After UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres issued a statement condemning North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch on the 19th (local time), on the 22nd, Kim Sun-kyung, Deputy Director of the International Organizations Department at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, fiercely criticized, saying, "The UN Secretary-General turns a blind eye to the military actions of South Korea and the United States while applying an unfair standard only to North Korea."

Although the UNSC has not taken action against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats due to frequent vetoes by China and Russia, North Korea seems to be initiating preemptive pressure in anticipation of further provocations. By arguing the 'unfairness' of the UN, it provides China and Russia with a justification to 'not cooperate.' North Korea, which resumed provocations under the pretext of the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, is expected to escalate the level of provocations in the future by using China and Russia as its 'backers.'

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