South Korea has warned North Korea that any nuclear assault from the latter would signal the “end” of Kim Jong Un’s rule, as per the Yonhap News Agency.
Seoul issued a warning after Pyongyang stated that the stationing of a US nuclear-capable submarine and other strategic assets here may be sufficient justification for the use of nuclear weapons.
The USS Kentucky, an 18,750-ton Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), and the first meeting of the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) this week were both criticised in a sharp-tongued statement by Pyongyang’s defence minister the day before, according to Yonhap news agency. Seoul’s defence ministry reissued the warning in response.
“In the event of any North Korean nuclear attack against the South Korea-US alliance, it will face an immediate, overwhelming and decisive response from the alliance, and (we) strongly warn again that through this, (the attack) will result in the end of the North Korean regime,” the Yonhap News agency reported citing Seoul ministry.
USS Kentucky docked in Busan on Tuesday, drawing North Korea’s ire
On Tuesday, the USS Kentucky docked at the port city of Busan in the southeast. the arrival coincided with the inaugural NCG session, which was intended to increase the credibility of the US’s commitment to extended deterrence and the utilisation of all available military resources, including nuclear weapons, to defend its allies.
On Tuesday, the USS Kentucky docked at the port city of Busan in the southeast. the arrival coincided with the inaugural NCG session, which was intended to increase the credibility of the US’s commitment to extended deterrence and the utilisation of all available military resources, including nuclear weapons, to defend its allies.
In response to North Korea’s “continued nuclear and missile threats,” the ministry defended the NCG meeting and the SSBN’s deployment, denying the North’s assertion that they represented a nuclear danger to the recalcitrant nation. This was reported by Yonhap news agency.
Furthermore, it stated that Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and missile provocations are “clear” violations of UN Security Council resolutions and “illicit activities,” stressing that it is the “only” nation to repeatedly threaten to launch a nuclear assault against the US-South Korean alliance.
North Korea’s Nuclear threats clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions
“North Korea will never gain any concessions from the South Korea-US alliance through its nuclear development and threats, and (we) urge it to recognize its isolation and destitution will only deepen, and to come out swiftly to the path of denuclearization,” Ministry told.
Furthermore, it stated that Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and missile provocations are “clear” violations of UN Security Council resolutions and “illicit activities,” stressing that it is the “only” nation to repeatedly threaten to launch a nuclear assault against the US-South Korean alliance.
Tensions have heightened as Pyongyang has continued its ‘sabre-rattling’, such as its launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 12 and two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday.
