SEOUL: North Korea has sharply condemned a US decision to approve a potential missile sale to South Korea, warning that it would respond “strongly and immediately” to what Pyongyang described as hostile actions.
The warning, reported by North Korea’s state-run KCNA on Thursday, comes at a sensitive moment on the Korean peninsula. US President Donald Trump has recently renewed his efforts to engage North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, including expressing interest in another meeting.
Despite those overtures, Pyongyang has shown little public enthusiasm for restarting negotiations.
A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the latest US arms approval once again demonstrated Washington’s allegedly hostile policy toward the country.
The comments were made in response to the US State Department’s approval of a possible $125 million sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea.
North Korea described the deal as a fresh threat to its security environment, arguing that Washington’s continued military support for Seoul was contributing to regional tensions.
The proposed package involves advanced tactical missiles that are designed to strengthen South Korea’s air-combat capabilities. Pyongyang has increasingly criticised US arms transfers to its southern neighbour, particularly as Seoul and Washington continue to reinforce their military cooperation.
North Korea also objected to US funding for activities focused on documenting its human rights situation and collecting information about conditions inside the country.
The Foreign Ministry characterised those efforts as part of a broader campaign intended to undermine North Korea’s social and political system.
According to the North Korean statement, Washington has approved several weapons-related deals with South Korea this year, including advanced air-to-air missiles, naval helicopters, attack helicopters and precision-guided bombs.
Pyongyang said such transfers were especially concerning as military cooperation between the United States and its allies expands across the Asia-Pacific region.
The North Korean spokesperson warned that the country would not ignore what it sees as growing military pressure.
“We cannot overlook” the impact of US weapons sales to South Korea on regional security, the official said, adding that Pyongyang would deliver a “serious, immediate and powerful response” to hostile actions in different areas.
The statement adds another layer of uncertainty to Trump’s renewed diplomatic outreach to Kim.
Trump and Kim previously held high-profile meetings during Trump’s first presidency, but efforts to reach a broader agreement over North Korea’s nuclear programme ultimately stalled.
With Washington now simultaneously pursuing dialogue and strengthening South Korea’s military capabilities, Pyongyang faces what it views as a complicated security environment.
For now, the latest warning highlights the fragile balance on the peninsula, where diplomatic overtures and military deterrence continue to move in opposite directions.
