North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol confirmed that the North Korean regime will launch more offensive measures against its “enemies” after the new launch of a ballistic missile in the Sea of Japan shortly after the symbolic visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
“In the future, all threats invading our security space will become direct targets of the DPRK and will be managed in the necessary manner. We are ready to respond to everything. We will show more offensive measures against the threat of enemies on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace through strong force,” the North Korean minister said in a statement carried by KCNA.
Although he did not mention the missile launch, he justified a more aggressive stance due to recent joint exercises conducted by the South Korean and American militaries in the region and talks held by Hegseth in the Asian country.
“This is a blatant revelation and an intentional and undisclosed expression of their hostile nature to oppose the DPRK until the end,” No Kwang Chol said.
Likewise, he stressed that they would “never avoid responding” because they had “no other choice” due to the US’s “hostility” towards North Korea. “What does the world expect us to do, imagining what situation we would be in under these circumstances?” The note says.
Early Friday, South Korea’s military condemned a short-range missile launch from North Korea, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned the previous day that he would adopt retaliatory measures in protest of recent US sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Pyongyang.
The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Thursday on eight North Korean nationals, including two bankers and two entities linked to Pyongyang, over their ties to cybercrime and money laundering.
US ‘remains ready’
The US Army Command in the Indo-Pacific region confirmed that the launch did not pose a threat to US forces, although it described North Korea’s military movement as “destabilizing.”
“We are aware of the missile launch and remain in close contact with our allies and partners. While we assess that this event does not pose a direct threat to US personnel or US territory, nor to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilizing impact of North Korea’s actions.”
The military authority said in a statement, “The United States remains ready to defend its lands and its allies in the region.”
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