Seoul: North Korea declared on Tuesday that the United States' consent for South Korea's initiative to construct nuclear-powered submarines will trigger a "nuclear domino" effect in the region. The statement came as North Korea criticized the joint fact sheet on trade and security agreements between the two allies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks North Korea's initial response to the document released by Seoul and Washington last Friday. The document outlined the outcomes of two summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, held in August and October. Additionally, a joint communique was issued following the allies' annual defense discussions in early November.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published an extensive commentary where North Korea condemned the joint fact sheet, perceiving it as a formalization of the adversarial stance adopted by Seoul and Washington against Pyongyang. A significant point of contention was the U.S.'s formal approval of South Korea's plans for nuclear-powered submarines and the allies' pledge to achieve North Korea's denuclearization.
North Korea criticized the U.S. approval as a "serious development" that undermines security in the Asia-Pacific region and contributes to "impossible nuclear control" globally. The KCNA emphasized that South Korea's nuclear submarine ambitions equate to a strategic move towards its own nuclear weaponization, potentially sparking a "nuclear domino phenomenon" and igniting an arms race in the region.
The North further criticized the U.S. for supporting South Korea's efforts to obtain uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, viewing it as paving the way for Seoul to become a "quasi-nuclear weapons state." The commentary also challenged the U.S.'s commitment with South Korea to realize "complete denuclearization" of the North, labeling the summit agreements as a clear demonstration of the Trump administration's policy towards North Korea.
North Korea interpreted the joint fact sheet as an affirmation of Washington and Seoul's confrontational policy, reflecting their ongoing adversarial intentions towards Pyongyang. In response, the KCNA declared that North Korea would adopt "justified and realistic countermeasures" to safeguard its sovereignty and regional peace.
Despite the strong rhetoric, North Korea's reaction to the summit document and the Security Consultative Meeting's joint communique appeared measured, as no official statement was issued in the name of government officials, nor were Trump or President Lee directly criticized. This warning from North Korea emerges amid its non-response to Trump's repeated offers to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to revive stalled diplomatic efforts. Kim has previously indicated openness to dialogue, provided the U.S. does not insist on North Korea's denuclearization as a prerequisite.