SEOUL: North Korea’s defence minister, No Kwang Chol, on Saturday warned of further “offensive action” following Pyongyang’s latest ballistic missile launch, escalating tensions in the region. The missile test on Friday came shortly after US President Donald Trump, during a regional tour, expressed interest in meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — an offer Pyongyang did not respond to.
No accused Washington of deliberately escalating political and military tensions, stating that the US had become “brazen in its military moves to threaten the security” of North Korea. He also criticised a recent visit to the Demilitarised Zone by US Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and his South Korean counterpart, calling it an effort to “fan up war hysterics.”
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The US Indo-Pacific Command condemned the missile launch, saying it highlighted the “destabilising impact” of Pyongyang’s actions, and confirmed ongoing consultations with allies and partners. South Korea’s military similarly urged North Korea to immediately halt activities that heighten tensions between the two Koreas.
The missile launch coincided with the arrival of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Busan, South Korea, for logistics support and crew rest, an action Pyongyang cited as further escalation. Analysts also noted that Trump’s approval of South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine could provoke a strong response from North Korea.
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South Korean intelligence agencies have indicated that Pyongyang could be preparing for a seventh nuclear test if Kim Jong Un decides to proceed, raising concerns over further instability on the Korean Peninsula.