North Korea Warns Of Serious Danger Over US-Korea Deterrence Deal
The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed concern that a recent US-South Korean agreement may bring about a “more serious danger.”
According to official media, Kim Yo-jong stated that North Korea’s nuclear deterrent “should be brought to further perfection.”
In order to confront nuclear threats from the North, the US consented to send nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea and include Seoul in its nuclear preparations.
South Korea consented to forego developing its own nuclear weapons in exchange.
The agreement, known as the Washington Declaration, was made public last week while President Joe Biden was in the American capital for talks with Yoon Suk-yeol of South Korea.
In reference to the accord, Ms. Kim stated: “Our right to self-defense will become stronger in direct proportion to them the more the enemies are dead set on staging nuclear war exercises, and the more nuclear assets they deploy in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula.”
She forewarned that the action would “only result in increasing the danger to the peace and security of North-East Asia and the world.”
Ms. Kim reportedly has influence over her brother and holds a senior position in the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee.
The agreement, according to President Biden, will boost the allies’ cooperation in preventing a North Korean assault.
President Yoon said that the pact represented a “unprecedented” US commitment to use nuclear weapons to thwart assaults and defend allies.
China issued a warning against “deliberately inflaming tensions, inciting conflict, and exaggerating threats.”
As part of the agreement, the US would send a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in 40 years along with other assets, such as nuclear-capable bombers, to increase the visibility of its defense commitments.
A Nuclear Consultative Group will also be formed by the two parties to talk about planning-related concerns.
Seoul’s politicians have long urged Washington to include them more in the process of deciding how and when to deploy nuclear weapons against North Korea.
Concern over North Korea’s nuclear danger has grown on both sides of the conflict. Pyongyang is perfecting its long-range weapons, which can reach the US mainland, and creating tactical nuclear weapons that can hit South Korea.
The US has already agreed to defend South Korea under international law, and it has also promised to deploy nuclear weapons if necessary. However, some South Koreans have begun to question that dedication and call for the nation to continue its own nuclear program.
