North Korea Threatens Decisive Response Over U.S. Missile Sale to South Korea

North Korea condemned the U.S. decision to approve the potential sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and equipment worth $125 million to South Korea.

This was announced on August 27 by a spokesperson for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose remarks were reported by the Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang stated that Washington continues to pursue a ‘hostile’ policy toward North Korea, and that the supply of weapons to South Korea poses a new threat to North Korea’s security.

“We have once again clearly recognized that the U.S.’s public stance is always hostile toward the DPRK,” said the North Korean Foreign Ministry representative.

The AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II is a short-range air-to-air missile with an infrared homing seeker. It can reach a speed of up to Mach 2.5, and its claimed range is up to 35 km.

South Korea has been operating these missiles since 2011.

Pyongyang’s reaction came amid statements by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing dissatisfaction with the participation of American troops in exercises with South Korea. He considers these exercises to be costly for the U.S. budget and provocative toward North Korea. Since it was impossible to cancel the exercises entirely, Trump ordered a significant reduction in their scale and issued a corresponding directive to the head of the Pentagon. At the same time, Trump stated that his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is positive.

North Korea also criticized U.S. funding for efforts to document the human rights situation in North Korea and gather intelligence on the country. Pyongyang called this part of a campaign to destabilize its social system.

Pyongyang has vowed to respond “severely, immediately, powerfully” to hostile actions by the U.S. and its allies in various areas.

“We cannot ignore the negative impact of U.S. arms sales to the Republic of Korea on the regional security situation,” the North Korean Foreign Ministry stated.

The U.S.-South Korea exercises, incidentally, are regular military drills. Pyongyang traditionally views such exercises as preparation for a possible attack on the DPRK and regularly opposes their conduct.

This year’s drills are taking place against the backdrop of escalating rhetoric between Pyongyang, Washington, and Seoul.