A senior official from North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the United States and South Korea continue to strengthen their military cooperation in a manner that fuels hostility and confrontation between the two Koreas.
According to the official, U.S. arms exports amount to the “export of war” to other countries, while South Korea’s decision to purchase additional American weapons demonstrates its intention to escalate military tensions rather than promote stability.
The remarks came after the U.S. State Department approved the sale of more than $300 million worth of weapons to South Korea, including 70 AIM-120C-8 missiles.
The AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is a modern missile system designed to be launched from fighter aircraft against other aircraft at medium range.
North Korea also claimed that it had received information indicating that the United States had supplied South Korea with additional military equipment in recent weeks, including fighter aircraft and precision-guided munitions.
Reports suggest that South Korea plans to purchase more than $25 billion worth of American weapons by 2030 as part of efforts to modernize and strengthen its defense capabilities.
Pyongyang argued that the growing flow of arms into the region is contributing to instability, pointing to other U.S. weapons sales to countries such as Japan and Taiwan.
The Korean Peninsula has remained divided since the aftermath of the Korean War, which solidified the separation between North and South Korea.
Since then, relations between the two sides have often been marked by mistrust and military tensions. North Korea has repeatedly accused South Korea of allowing foreign military influence in the region through its close alliance with the United States.
Currently, the United States maintains approximately 30,000 troops in South Korea. These forces help deter potential attacks from North Korea and regularly participate in joint military exercises with South Korean troops aimed at enhancing defense readiness.
While Seoul and Washington view this alliance as essential for maintaining regional security, Pyongyang considers it a serious threat and often describes the exercises as preparations for war.
At the same time, North Korea has continued to expand and modernize its own military capabilities.
The country is one of the world’s nuclear-armed states and maintains that its nuclear weapons and missile programs are necessary to deter foreign intervention and safeguard its national sovereignty.
