The commentary also criticised the US and South Korea for various recent military steps including the deployment of US nuclear strategic bombers to South Korea.
“The nuclear threat by the US and its vassal forces to the DPRK nears a new red line,” the North Korean commentator said, calling for the strengthening of “self-defensive nuclear-armed forces”.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the commentary raised the question of whether North Korea was preparing to justify another military “provocation”.
“It is clear that the current heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula resulted from North Korea’s futile nuclear development and reckless military provocations,” deputy ministry spokesperson Kim In-ae told a briefing.
South Korea held a joint aerial exercise with the US and Japan near the Korean peninsula last month, involving a US B-52 strategic bomber as well as fighter jets of the three nations.
The US and South Korea also held major air exercises involving 130 warplanes from both countries to simulate 24-hour wartime operations last month.
South Korea and the US say their exercises are aimed at maintaining combat readiness to respond to North Korea.
North Korea denounces the exercises as preparations by the US and its South Korean ally to invade it.
Source: CNA
