North Korea Vows ‘Toughest Counteraction’ As Long As US Rejects Its Sovereignty

MENA FN | Published January 26, 2025

Seoul, Jan 26 (IANS) North Korea’s foreign Ministry said Sunday Pyongyang should maintain “the toughest counteraction” to the US as long as it rejects the country’s Sovereignty and security interests.

The North’s foreign ministry made the remarks as it blamed joint air drills between South Korea and the US, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), days after US President Donald trump expressed intent to reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Yonhap news agency reported.

“The reality stresses that the DPRK should counter the US with the toughest counteraction from A to Z as long as it refuses the sovereignty and security interests of the DPRK and this is the best option for dealing with the US,” the statement said.

DPRK stands for the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The report came just days after Trump called Kim a “smart guy” and expressed his intention to again reach out to the North’s leader.

The foreign ministry referred to a four-day combined aerial exercise between Seoul and Washington conducted at an air base in South Korea’s Wonju last week, as well as another recent trilateral joint air drill also involving Japan, calling them a “grave challenge” to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The ministry warned that “such moves will entail a reflective counteraction,” adding that the country “will not permit the imbalance of strength … and take the toughest counteraction to defend the sovereign right and security interests of the state and thoroughly ensure peace and stability in the region.”

 

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SOURCE: www.menafn.com

RELATED: North Korea fires strategic cruise missiles, vows tough stance on U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un looks on during the test of what KCNA described as a strategic cruise missile, at an undisclosed location, January 25, 2025, in this photo released January 26, 2025. KCNA via REUTER
REUTERS | Published January 26, 2025
SEOUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) – North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test on Saturday, state media KCNA reported on Sunday.
The country’s leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test, according to the report, which described it as a test-fire of an “important weapon system.”

The underwater-to-surface strategic cruise missiles travelled 1,500 kilometres and flew between 7,507 and 7,511 seconds before hitting their targets, KCNA reported.

In a separate KCNA report on Sunday, North Korea’s foreign ministry vowed the “toughest counteraction” against the United States as long as Washington “refuses” Pyongyang’s sovereignty.
The military alliance and joint drills between South Korea and the U.S. were to blame for the growing tensions in the region, the ministry said in a statement carried by KCNA.
The statement came as U.S. President Donald Trump said during an interview on Thursday that he would reach out to Kim again after the two developed a working relationship in Trump’s first term.
North Korea’s war deterrence means were being “perfected more thoroughly,” Kim was quoted as saying, while the leader also vowed to continue efforts to strengthen the military.
“Kim Jong Un affirmed that the DPRK will always make strenuous efforts … to perform its important mission and duty for defending sustainable and lasting peace and stability on the basis of more powerfully developed military muscle in the future.”
The DPRK stands for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
In a statement later in the day, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles from inland areas towards waters off the west coast at around 4 p.m. (0700 GMT) on Saturday.
The report said the missile test was part of plans to build national defence capabilities against potential enemies in line with changing regional safety circumstances.

Earlier this month, North Korean state media also reported that Kim oversaw a successful test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile (IRBM).

 

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SOURCE: www.reuters.com

 

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