Seoul: North Korea on Tuesday denounced the recent arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea, accusing Washington of ignoring Pyongyang's security concerns and warning that it is ready to use any means to defend its national security.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea's defense ministry made these remarks a day after the USS Alexandria, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, arrived at the Busan naval base, approximately 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to replenish supplies and allow crew members to rest.
In a statement, a spokesperson at North Korea's defense ministry described the submarine's arrival as a clear expression of the U.S.'s "invariable hysteria for confrontation" with North Korea and an "undeniable threat" to its security environment. The spokesperson accused the U.S. of openly ignoring North Korea's security concerns, expressing "grave concerns," and warned the U.S. to halt provocations that stir up instability.
The statement emphasized that North Korea's armed forces are closely monitoring the frequent appearance of U.S. strategic means on the Korean Peninsula and are prepared to use any means necessary to defend the state's security and regional peace. Furthermore, the spokesperson asserted that the country's armed forces would take actions to deter factors threatening the regional security environment and exercise the right to punish provocateurs without hesitation.
Tuesday's statement is the latest in a series of criticisms from North Korea regarding the deployment of strategic U.S. assets on the Korean Peninsula. On Sunday, North Korea condemned recent joint South Korea-U.S. military drills involving the strategic U.S. B-1B bomber, accusing them of escalating tensions and warning of potential "undesired results."
This development is also seen as an attempt by North Korea to test the newly inaugurated Donald Trump administration, which has expressed its intent to reengage with Pyongyang.