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Sunday, April 03, 2022, 09:53
DPRK condemns ROK's remarks on military ability
By Reuters
Sunday, April 03, 2022, 09:53 By Reuters

ROK soldiers stand guard in a guard post as seen from the Imjingak peace park near the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Paju on January 1, 2022. (JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)

SEOUL - The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Sunday condemned the Republic of Korea  defense minister's remarks about its ability to strike against the DPRK.

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea of the DPRK, said in a statement that the ROK defense minister's remarks "further worsened the inter-Korean relations and military tension on the Korean peninsula," according to state news agency KCNA.

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea of the DPRK, said in a statement that the ROK defense minister's remarks "further worsened the inter-Korean relations and military tension on the Korean peninsula," according to state news agency KCNA

That comes after the ROK minister, Suh Wook, said on Friday that his country's military has a variety of missiles with significantly improved firing range, accuracy and power, with "the ability to accurately and quickly hit any target in North Korea." The DPRK is also referred to as North Korea.

ALSO READ: DPRK's Kim issues order for test-launch of new type ICBM

Suh also said the ministry will actively support the military to ensure it has the capability to respond overwhelmingly to DPRK 's missile threats. He called the DPRK its "enemy."

Kim said the country would "reconsider a lot of things" and that ROK "may face a serious threat" due to such remarks.

In a separate statement on Sunday, Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, said the DPRK "will mercilessly direct all its military force into destroying major targets in Seoul and the south Korean army" if the ROK army engages in a dangerous military action such as a preemptive strike. The ROK is also referred to as South Korea. 

Tensions in the Korean peninsula have sharply escalated in recent weeks after the DPRK tested two ballistic missiles on Feb 26 and March 4 that involved a new ICBM system that the country is developing, and as it conducted a full ICBM test – the first since 2017 – last week. 

READ MORE: ROK says DPRK fires projectile, believes it is ICBM test

ROK President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has called for boosting military deterrence, including by strengthening ties with the United States, and has vowed to seek to establish a permanent three-way dialogue channel between ROK, DPRK and the United States.


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