DPRK may deem further US hostilities a 'declaration of war'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Feb 2023 11:44

The DPRK says the US should perceive intuitively and accept the consequences of its actions and provocations.

A DPRK flag fluttering at the village of Gijungdong in North Korea, July 19, 2022 (Reuters)

The US continued "hostile practices" toward DPRK, including possible military exercises and deployment of strategic weapons on the Korean peninsula, may be perceived as a "declaration of war" against Pyongyang, the Department of US Affairs of the North Korean Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

After Pyongyang test-fired two ballistic missiles on Monday, Japan requested an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC), according to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

"The U.S. should bear in mind that if it persists in its hostile and provocative practices against the DPRK despite the latter's repeated protest and warning, it can be regarded as a declaration of war against the DPRK. The U.S. should perceive intuitively and accept the consequences to be entailed by it," said Kwon Jong Gun, the department's director general, according to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kwon also protested the US and South Korea's actions, saying they "put a sovereign state's legitimate right to self-defense on the agenda of the UNSC."

"If the UNSC has a true intention to contribute to peace and security in the Korean peninsula, it will have to bitterly condemn the U.S. and South Korea for their moves of escalating military tension such as the frequent deployment of strategic assets and large-scale joint military drills against the DPRK," the official added.

Last week, North Korea launched 2 ballistic missiles which could reach US rounds and test-fired two short-ranged ones toward Japan, which sparked security uneasiness in both South Korea and Japan.

Japan announced that the missiles landed outside its exclusive economic zone.