North Korea's Foreign Ministry has condemned plans to sell US-made Apache helicopters to South Korea, state media said. KCNA Friday (23/8), while vowing to take additional steps to improve his defense.
The Pentagon said Monday (19/8) that the US State Department had approved the planned sale of Apache helicopters along with related logistics and support to South Korea, estimated to be worth $3.5 billion or equivalent to 54.51 trillion rupiah.
An unnamed senior official in charge of international news at North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a press statement on Thursday (Aug. 22) criticizing the planned sale as a move to worsen tensions, as well as ongoing annual military exercises with allies.
“This is a reckless provocative act, deliberately increasing security instability in the region,” the official said, according to KCNA.
The official accused Washington of escalating military confrontation, “disturbing the military balance and thereby increasing the danger of a new conflict” in the region by supplying lethal weapons to its allies and friends.
“Pyongyang’s strategic defense will be further strengthened to protect national security and interests as well as regional peace,” the statement said, vowing to continue carrying out military activities to enhance self-defense. (uh)
