The foreign ministry of North Korea has strongly condemned a U.S. decision to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea, warning that it would exacerbate tensions on the Korean peninsula.
State media KCNA reported on Saturday that the director-general for external policy stated military cooperation between Washington and Seoul is being systematically strengthened despite international concerns over rising tensions in and around the peninsula.
The official cited the U.S. State Department’s approval of a nearly $300 million foreign military sale to South Korea as the latest example, emphasizing that “U.S. arms exports are war exports.”
North Korea has vowed to continue strengthening its self-defensive deterrent to maintain regional power balance, according to the statement.