North Korea said that a US sale of Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to South Korea is evidence of Washington’s hostile policy towards Pyongyang.
“The US approved the sale of various lethal equipment worth an astronomical sum of money, including the latest air-to-air missiles, new-type helicopters for naval operation, attack helicopters and precisely guided bombs, encouraging the ROK (South Korea) to boost its capability to fight a war,” the North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman wrote in state media on Thursday.
He continued. “Now that the military integration of the US and its allies is being accelerated in the Asia-Pacific region, we can not overlook the adverse effect of the US sale of its weapons to the ROK on the regional security environment.”
The spokesman argued that the arms sales and integration were proof of Washington’s aggressive policy.
He added, “The DPRK (North Korea) is well aware of the reality that there always exists outsiders’ malignant attempt and threat to the DPRK’s security and its political stability, and will make a serious, immediate and powerful response to the hostile acts in different spheres.”
The remarks follow President Donald Trump seeking a meeting with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and criticizing US war games with South Korea.
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I was not happy with the fact that the United States had, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” the President wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. “These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful.”
Pyongyang has said it will not engage in talks with Washington until the US drops its hostile policy and demands that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons.
