North Korea Calls South Korea-Japan Defense Cooperation a "Reckless Act That Invites Destruction"

North Korea stated that the recent moves to strengthen defense exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and Japan are "a reckless military collusion by hostile nations right in front of a nuclear-armed state, which will only lead to their own destruction."

Kang Chol-su, a department head at the Institute for Enemy Studies, made the remarks in a commentary titled "Dangerous Military Collusion Inviting Self-Destruction" on July 8, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) today (July 9). He stated, "No matter whether Japan and South Korea form a military alliance or do anything else, the absolute and unchangeable dynamic structure on the Korean Peninsula, established by the strongest nuclear-armed state, will never, ever change."

The Institute for Enemy Studies is presumed to be the renamed version of the "Institute for National Reunification," which was previously under the United Front Department.

Kang mentioned recent examples of strengthened defense cooperation between South Korea and Japan, such as the meeting between their defense ministers and the instance where the South Korean Air Force received refueling support from the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He expressed concern, claiming that such cooperation is aimed at an "Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement" (ACSA) between the two countries and that it "cannot be overlooked."

He further argued, "The security cooperation between Japan and South Korea is a confrontational alliance aimed directly at our Republic, and it is part of building a 'trilateral nuclear cooperation system' to keep neighboring countries in check militarily by riding on the coattails of the United States' hegemonic strategy."

He continued by targeting the military cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, stating, "This is clearly evidenced by the fact that Japan and South Korea are speaking in one voice about the 'importance of trilateral cooperation among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea,' and are deploying long-range missiles that far exceed their own defense boundaries while attempting to acquire nuclear-powered submarines."

Kang justified North Korea's nuclear possession by saying, "Continuously expanding and strengthening nuclear forces and thoroughly exercising our status as a nuclear-armed state is the only way to proactively deal with the acute and unpredictable changes in the international situation and to safeguard peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.