North Korea issued a stern rebuke on Saturday, strongly condemning a revised U.S. nuclear strategic plan approved by President Joe Biden earlier this year. The North Korean foreign ministry expressed grave concerns over what it perceives as an aggressive shift in U.S. nuclear policy, vowing to bolster its own nuclear capabilities in response.
In a statement released through state media outlet KCNA, North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), criticized the U.S. for its “dangerous nuclear posture readjustment.” The ministry warned that North Korea would “bolster up its strategic strength in every way to control and eliminate all sorts of security challenges” that could arise from the new U.S. strategy. It further emphasized that North Korea would “resolutely counter any type of nuclear threat.”
The statement also rejected the notion that the U.S. can justify its nuclear arms buildup by pointing to the defensive measures of other sovereign nations. “Other sovereign states’ efforts for bolstering up their defense capabilities to cope with the ever-increasing nuclear threat from the U.S. can never be a pretext for its nuclear arms buildup for aggression and provocative coordination of nuclear posture,” the ministry declared.
Despite the U.S. claiming that its nuclear strategy is not aimed at any single nation, North Korea remains undeterred in its nuclear ambitions. “No matter how desperately the U.S. may exaggerate the ‘nuclear threat’ from other countries, the DPRK will push forward the building of a nuclear force sufficient and reliable enough to firmly defend the sovereignty and security interests of the country on its fixed timetable,” the statement added.
The revised U.S. nuclear strategy, which has garnered attention and concern globally, was reported by The New York Times to focus on China’s expanding nuclear arsenal for the first time. The White House clarified that the plan is not directed at a single country or threat, but rather is part of a broader deterrence strategy. Nonetheless, China’s foreign ministry voiced serious concern about the strategy, noting its implications for U.S. preparations against possible coordinated nuclear challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea.
As tensions rise over nuclear posturing, North Korea’s latest statements underscore its determination to continue expanding its nuclear capabilities, setting the stage for potential further escalation in the region.
