Kim Yo Jong criticized the Trump administration for escalating tensions, claiming that U.S. military actions justify North Korea’s nuclear deterrent enhancements. South Korea’s defense ministry rejected her statements as propaganda, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. The debate continues over regional security and denuclearization efforts in light of recent U.S. military activities and alliances in the region.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has condemned the Trump administration for increasing provocations, which she asserts legitimizes enhancing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), she criticized the recent visit of the USS Carl Vinson to South Korea, deeming it a manifestation of the U.S.’s ongoing hostile policy toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
As Kim Yo Jong remarked, “As soon as its new administration appeared this year, the US has stepped up the political and military provocations against the DPRK, ‘carrying forward’ the former administration’s hostile policy.” Her statement reflects a broader sentiment within North Korea that views U.S. military actions as aggressive and needing a strong response.
The South Korean defense ministry, however, dismissed her comments as misleading propaganda aimed at rationalizing the development of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. They emphasized that North Korea’s nuclear weapons are intolerable, stating, “North Korea’s nuclear weapons are never acceptable, and the only way for North Korea to survive is to abandon its obsession and delusion about nuclear (weapons).”
Kim also criticized the deployment of U.S. B-1B strategic bombers for joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan, as well as a recent security agreement that reinforced calls for North Korea’s denuclearization. This move and the aircraft carrier’s arrival mark an assertive stance by the U.S. amid ongoing tensions.
In conclusion, Kim Yo Jong’s remarks highlight North Korea’s perception of increased U.S. military activities as provocations that warrant a bolstered nuclear deterrent. The South Korean defense ministry’s rebuttal underscores the ongoing debate over regional security and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, emphasizing that the only viable path lies in abandoning nuclear pursuits. The situation reflects persistent tensions between the U.S., South Korea, and North Korea, amid calls for denuclearization and military readiness.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
