North Korea warns of stronger response to U.S.-led drills
· World · The Hindu, NDTV
Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, accused U.S.-led naval exercises in the Pacific—including the recent Pacific Vanguard 2026 drill near Guam—of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. She warned that North Korea would take ‘proportional or more offensive’ measures if its security or national interests were violated, reaffirming Pyongyang’s commitment to expanding its nuclear arsenal. The statement, issued via state media KCNA, framed the drills as part of Washington’s broader strategy to strengthen military influence in the Asia-Pacific, involving allies like South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Earlier this week, Kim Yo Jong rejected calls for denuclearisation at an IAEA conference, insisting North Korea’s nuclear status is irreversible. The Pacific Vanguard 2026 exercise ran from August 29 to September 10, according to Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force.
Why it matters
The escalating rhetoric risks further destabilising the Korean Peninsula and could prompt retaliatory actions from both sides, with broader implications for regional security and U.S. alliances in Asia. South Korea, Japan, and U.S. forces in the region face heightened operational risks as North Korea signals readiness to respond militarily to perceived threats.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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