North Korea Warns of ‘Powerful Response’ Over US Arms Sales to South Korea

North Korea warns that it will take a “serious, immediate and powerful response” after the United States approved a possible weapons sale to South Korea and announced funding for projects focused on human rights and information inside the North.

Pyongyang sharply criticized the US moves on Thursday, claiming that the latest restrictions could jeopardize regional security. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry further accused Washington of continuing hostile moves toward the country.

North Korea Warns Over US Missile Sale

The US Department of State said on Friday that it had cleared the probable sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles and associated equipment to South Korea. The transaction is anticipated to be worth $125 million.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry stated that it could not ignore the consequences of the United States’ sale of weapons to South Korea, also known as the Republic of Korea. Pyongyang warned that the action could undermine the region’s security.

The ministry also opposed to separate US initiatives to help North Korean human rights programs and information dissemination.

Last week, the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor announced an open competition for organizations working to expose human rights violations in North Korea. The program also aims to challenge Pyongyang’s control over information, according to Washington.

Pyongyang Criticises US Actions

North Korea claimed that the weapons sale and other US programs were part of a larger set of operations against the country. The Foreign Ministry identified them as security dangers that could cause unrest in North Korea.

The ministry cautioned that Pyongyang would not simply disregard the current developments. It stated that North Korea was prepared to respond fast and severely to what it viewed as hostile acts by the United States.

The fresh warning comes despite US President Donald Trump’s recent attempts to improve relations with North Korea. Trump has taken numerous steps toward Pyongyang, including lowering joint military drills with South Korea.

So far, North Korea has been cautious in its response to those overtures. Relations between Washington and Pyongyang remain tight, with military and security matters dominating their interactions.

The two Koreas remain technically at war. Their 1950-53 fight ended in an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, leaving the peninsula without a long-term peace deal.

The current disagreement over US military sales and North Korean programs might exacerbate already tough relations between Pyongyang, Washington, and Seoul.