North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned a U.S. decision to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea, warning the move would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula, state media KCNA said on Saturday.
– The ministry’s director-general for external policy said in a statement carried by KCNA that military cooperation between Washington and Seoul was being “systematically strengthened” despite what it called international concern 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 of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea as the latest example.
– “U.S. arms exports are war exports,” the official said, adding that North Korea would continue strengthening its self-defensive deterrent to maintain the regional balance of power.
– North Korea routinely criticises U.S.-South Korea military cooperation as preparation for war.