North Korea warns of the possibility of a "real" armed conflict in the face of US "provocations"

 

North Korea's Defense Ministry warned on Saturday of the risk that the constant "provocations by the United States" in the region could lead to armed conflict "at any time" and argued that this situation justifies taking self-defense measures to protect itself.

"We strongly warn the United States and its hostile followers towards the DPRK (North Korea) to immediately stop hostile acts that generate more provocation and instability and that can lead the military confrontation in the Korean peninsula and its surroundings to a real armed conflict," reads a statement collected by the official KCNA agency.

The Defense Ministry has pointed out that the "military adventurism" of the United States has "crossed the red line on a global scale" and has insisted that "military provocations" by Washington "constitute the source of plunging the regional situation into an irreparable catastrophe."

The North Korean government has thus pointed out that it is a "constitutional duty" for its armed forces to take "self-defense measures to protect the state's security environment and maintain strategic stability and the balance of forces in the region," where there are "two belligerent sides that are on high alert" and "the possibility of a constant military conflict persists."

"The KPA (Army) is closely following the military movements of the US and its allies, opening up the possibility of all options in its preparation for combat. If it is deemed necessary, it will take immediate measures to contain the danger and achieve the military and strategic objective of the State," concludes the note issued by the North Korean authorities.

These statements come after the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, accused the United States on Friday of taking pressure against North Korea "to the extreme" and continuing with its acts of "provocation" against the country, which could lead the parties to a "destructive nuclear war."

Earlier this week, Kim called on his military to concentrate “all efforts” on finalizing “preparations for war” in the face of rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, while once again defending the need to strengthen Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities “without limits.”

Tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula for months, marked by North Korea sending hundreds of balloons with garbage across the border. Seoul also resumed propaganda broadcasts via loudspeakers on the border in June for the first time in six years, as well as its live-fire maneuvers near the demarcation line, activities that are added to joint military maneuvers with the United States.

North Korean authorities have also been increasing their launches of ballistic missiles and other projectiles in recent years, operations they describe as "warnings" in response to Seoul's actions, with whom they have not yet signed a peace agreement despite the fact that the Korean War (1950-1953) ended with an armistice, so both countries are still technically at war.

Europa Press