Arab News Japan

TOKYO: North Korea says the Trump administration in the United States “inherited the previous administration’s hostile policy toward Korea as soon as the new administration was inaugurated, escalating political and military provocations against us.”

Kim Yo-jong, vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, wrote in a statement: “The United States is habitually carrying out provocative acts that disregard the security concerns of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and aggravate the situation.”

He referred to a visit by the US Navy’s nuclear aircraft carrier Carl Vinson to South Korea’s Busan base on March 2. The strike group also participated in war exercises with Japan and South Korea – America’s “minions,” according to Kim – in the waters around the Korean Peninsula last year.

He said that “America’s malicious anti-Korea confrontational maneuvers” had intensified since the Carl Vinson entered the South Korean port in March “and will intensify with the US-Japan-Korea maritime drills and the Freedom Shield joint military exercises to be held this month.” 

“With such concrete actions, the US is not hiding its intention to be hostile and confrontational toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Kim stated. “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea strongly denounces the reckless, ostentatious and threatening behavior of the US and its subordinate forces, who are endangering the peaceful environment in the entire region.”

Kim said the “threats” of the United States justify North Korea’s nuclear policy. “The hostile policies toward North Korea that the United States is pursuing fully provides a justification for infinitely strengthening our nuclear war deterrent. Today’s reality further highlights the validity, legitimacy and necessity of our path to strengthening our nuclear forces.”

“As the regional military situation suggests, the nefarious ambitions of the United States and its minions to intimidate, pressure and subjugate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are evolving to an ever more reckless stage.”