Arab News Japan

TOKYO: North Korea said the U.S. arms sales to Japan and South Korea were “extremely dangerous” acts that would heighten military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, leading to a new arms race.

The U.S. has decided to sell 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles and related equipment to Japan, 25 F-35 stealth fighter jets, 36 SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and 42 AIM-9X sidewinder air-to-air missiles to South Korea, a deputy director of the Defense Ministry told the Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea criticized that each weapon the U.S. intends to hand over to its regional military allies is offensive military equipment with a range far beyond the Korean Peninsula, and it is obvious who will be targeted and who will be used against.

“The U.S. administration has argued that arms supply to allies will not change the military balance in the region, but the bloody war in continental Europe, Middle East and other parts of the world heralds a significant military and political situation on the Korean Peninsula.”

The official added that North Korea will respond to this situation and “will accelerate the establishment of a war deterrent to control and manage regional situations strongly.”