FALCON POWERS – North Korea criticized on Thursday the latest arms deals made by the United States with countries in Asia, particularly the deal to supply Seoul with Apache attack helicopters, describing this decision as a “reckless and provocative act.”
The North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “We strongly oppose and reject the US and its forces’ military buildup,” referring to South Korea. It added, “This is a reckless and provocative act aimed at deliberately increasing security instability in the region.” It also criticized recent US arms sales to Japan and other US allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The United States had announced on Monday its approval to sell South Korea up to 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment, including missiles, in a deal worth $3.5 billion.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the deal “will enhance the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats” by providing “a reliable and effective deterrent force capable of conducting regional operations,” using South Korea’s official name.
The US State Department has approved this deal, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency submitted the required notification to the US Congress on Monday, which still needs to approve the deal.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification said on Friday that North Korea is the one “threatening peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” It added that Pyongyang considers inter-Korean relations as “relations between two hostile states” and is “continuously developing… nuclear weapons and illegal missiles.”
Deputy ministry spokesman Kim In-ae told reporters that the government is “closely monitoring and accurately assessing North Korean activities through close cooperation with relevant agencies.”
Washington is Seoul’s main security ally and has around 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea.
On Friday, Pyongyang also said that US arms sales in the Pacific would push the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” to “strengthen its strategic deterrence.”
