Seoul: North Korea announced that the United States' endorsement of South Korea's initiative to develop nuclear-powered submarines may instigate a "nuclear domino" effect in the region. The North criticized the joint fact sheet on trade and security agreements issued by South Korea and the U.S.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks North Korea's initial response to the document released by Seoul and Washington following the outcomes of two summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in August and October. The allies also issued a joint communique after their annual defense talks earlier in November.
In a detailed commentary by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea condemned the joint fact sheet as a formalization of Seoul and Washington's confrontational stance toward Pyongyang. The North specifically criticized the U.S.'s approval of South Korea's nuclear submarine ambitions and the allies' pledge to achieve the denuclearization of the North.
North Korea labeled Washington's endorsement of Seoul's nuclear submarine initiative as a "serious development," claiming it undermines security in the Asia-Pacific and triggers "impossible nuclear control" globally. The KCNA highlighted that South Korea's nuclear submarine ambitions are strategic moves towards "its own nuclear weaponization," potentially sparking an arms race in the region.
The North also objected to the U.S. supporting South Korea's aspirations for uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, viewing it as a step toward transforming Seoul into a "quasi-nuclear weapons state." North Korea interpreted the joint fact sheet's commitment to the "complete denuclearization of the DPRK" as a denial of its existence.
In such a context, North Korea criticized the U.S. for speaking about implementing the past DPRK-U.S. agreements, labeling it as "shameless" and indicative of the U.S.'s confrontational policy. The North's commentary further criticized the U.S. and South Korea's commitment to the complete denuclearization of the North, viewing it as a continuation of the Trump administration's stance towards North Korea.
The commentary suggests that the joint fact sheet reflects Washington and Seoul's hostile intentions towards North Korea as a formulated policy. North Korea warned that it would take "justified and realistic countermeasures" to protect its sovereignty and regional peace.
Despite the criticism, North Korea's response appears measured as it refrained from issuing an official statement from government officials or directly criticizing Trump or President Lee. The North's warning comes amid a lack of response to Trump's proposal to resume stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang, with Kim Jong-un previously expressing openness to talks if denuclearization was not a precondition.
A unification ministry official in Seoul described the KCNA commentary as "calm and restrained," echoing North Korea's previous positions on denuclearization and other security issues. Earlier this month, South Korea's spy agency indicated a "high possibility" of a U.S.-North Korea summit following large-scale military exercises between Seoul and Washington next March.
As of Tuesday morning, Pyongyang had not responded to the South Korean defense ministry's offer for military talks regarding the Military Demarcation Line, according to officials.