North Korea has directly referenced the “Trump administration” in its latest warning against the deployment of a U.S. strategic bomber and the ongoing U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.
Pyongyang vowed to respond with “strategic means” to what it calls “strategic threats” posed by the United States and its allies.
In a statement issued on February 21, the spokesperson for North Korea’s Ministry of National Defense stated that Pyongyang would “continue responsible military activities to control and manage the unstable security environment on the Korean Peninsula through strong deterrence,” according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 22.
North Korea’s defense ministry accused the United States and its allies of escalating military provocations that threaten Pyongyang’s security, citing the first deployment of a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula this year on February 20 as an example.
“Since the emergence of the Trump administration, military provocations by the United States and its followers that threaten the security environment of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have become more severe,” the statement read.
The ministry also criticized the United States for what it called “provocative military maneuvers in the region within just two months of the year.” It further accused Washington of exacerbating military tensions by planning to conduct the large-scale Freedom Shield joint military exercises in March, an event that includes seven additional brigade-level field training exercises compared to last year.
Pyongyang Justifies Expansion of Nuclear Deterrence
North Korea defended its military buildup, arguing that its nuclear forces are a “legitimate self-defense measure to safeguard national sovereignty and regional security.”
“The rapid and accelerated strengthening of our nuclear armed forces is a necessary response to the growing military threats posed by the United States and its allied nations,” the statement asserted.
North Korea also accused Washington of increasing “reckless military adventurism” by actively preparing for the operational use of nuclear strike capabilities.
“The reality in which hostile forces are becoming more blatant in their military confrontation further proves why the enhancement of our war capabilities, centered around nuclear deterrence, is a just and inevitable choice,” it added.
North Korea May Be Setting Stage for Future Military Provocations
Analysts suggest that Pyongyang’s latest statement may be aimed at justifying future military provocations in response to U.S.-South Korea joint exercises. North Korea could also be attempting to leverage these military drills as a precondition for future negotiations with Washington.
Recently, Pyongyang has issued a series of statements through its defense ministry, including one on February 11 by its spokesperson and another on February 15 by its policy director, both of which criticized U.S.-South Korea military drills, Washington’s strategic weapons development, and discussions on North Korea’s denuclearization.
Notably, while North Korea’s previous statements referred to its adversary as simply “the United States” or “the U.S. administration,” this latest statement explicitly names the “Trump administration.” The direct mention suggests that Pyongyang may be adjusting its rhetoric to align with its strategic calculations regarding the new U.S. leadership.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
