Seoul: North Korea has criticised growing military cooperation between the United States and South Korea and warned that Seoul could become a target of “collective punishment” in the future. The statement was issued by a North Korean official in response to recent remarks by General Xavier Brunson, the top commander of US forces in South Korea.
According to South Korea’s state-run news agency Yonhap, Kang Chol-su, section chief at North Korea’s Institute of Enemy State Studies, made the remarks in a statement published through North Korean state media.
North Korea Accuses US of Using South Korea
Kang accused Washington of using South Korea as a key base for implementing its strategy in regional conflicts. He criticised what he described as the expanding military cooperation between the United States and South Korea.
The North Korean official referred to recent comments by General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea. Brunson had stressed the need to restructure the security framework on the Korean Peninsula and work jointly with South Korea and the United States to respond to threats originating from outside the peninsula.
Warning of ‘Collective Punishment’
Kang claimed that Brunson’s remarks represented an attempt to move the US-South Korea alliance beyond its traditional argument of being focused solely on defending South Korea and toward a broader “collective defence” arrangement.
He also criticised South Korea’s increasing defence spending.
Kang said that South Korea, which he described as a “decisive hub of collective defence” under US strategic interests, could eventually become a “decisive target of collective punishment.”
The statement was issued by North Korea and did not provide details of any specific military action against South Korea.
Tensions Continue on Korean Peninsula
The warning comes amid continued exchanges between North and South Korea over military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
In recent days, North Korea has also conducted ballistic missile tests. South Korea, the United States and Japan have held discussions following North Korean missile launches.
The latest statement adds to the ongoing rhetoric between the two sides as military cooperation among the United States, South Korea and Japan remains a major issue in the region.
