Seoul: The presidential office has announced that South Korea holds no hostile intentions toward North Korea. This statement was made on Tuesday, following North Korea’s condemnation of a joint fact sheet on recent trade and security agreements between South Korea and the United States, which the North described as “formalizing” a confrontational stance against Pyongyang.

According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea had earlier released a detailed commentary via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The commentary criticized the U.S.’s approval of South Korea’s plans to develop nuclear-powered submarines, suggesting that this could trigger a “nuclear domino” effect in the region.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a press notice assured that South Korea is committed to reducing inter-Korean tensions and rebuilding trust between the two countries. She countered the KCNA commentary by emphasizing that the government harbors no hostile or confrontational intentions toward North Korea.

Furthermore, Kang clarified that South Korea’s security collaboration with the United States is focused on safeguarding national interests and defense. “The government will continue efforts to ensure the South Korea-U.S. alliance contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region,” she stated.

The North’s commentary also criticized the U.S.’s formal endorsement of South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and the allies’ dedication to achieving the denuclearization of North Korea. This marks Pyongyang’s initial response to the document released by Seoul and Washington last Friday, which outlined the results of two summits between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held in August and October.

The North’s warning comes amid its non-response to Trump’s repeated proposals for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to restart stalled diplomatic efforts. Kim had previously indicated that North Korea remains open to discussions with the U.S., provided that Washington does not insist on denuclearization as a prerequisite for dialogue.