PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea has issued a stern warning to allies of the United States, including Germany, France, and Britain, urging them to refrain from exacerbating regional tensions.
In a statement released by the foreign ministry on Monday, Pyongyang denounced what it termed as “military interference” and heightened surveillance activities conducted by US allies under the guise of monitoring UN sanctions violations.
The statement, carried by the state-controlled news agency KCNA, specifically called upon the UK, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, and Australia to cease their alleged “blatant military intervention in the Asia-Pacific” under the pretext of UN sanctions enforcement. North Korea vowed to take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and safety in response to such surveillance activities, without providing further details.
KCNA also criticized Western nations for blindly aligning with the US, cautioning them against pursuing policies that could ultimately harm their own interests. The warning comes amid reports of joint maritime patrols conducted by South Korea and Britain near the Korean peninsula to enforce UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea, as well as training exercises involving the navies of South Korea, Japan, and the US.
In a separate development, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited arms factories over the weekend, where he personally inspected various weapons, including sniper rifles and rocket launchers. Accompanied by senior officials, including his influential sister Kim Yo-jong, Kim expressed satisfaction with the quality of the weapons and emphasized the need for factories to meet production targets without fail.
The heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula have been exacerbated by North Korea’s increased weapons testing activities since the beginning of 2022, including tests of nuclear-capable missiles. Pyongyang’s rhetoric against the US and South Korea has also intensified, with the regime viewing both countries as adversaries. The situation remains volatile, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation in the region.
