North Korea Threatens Nuclear Strike Over US Sub in South Korea
North Korea has fired a chilling warning after the US deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korean waters. Defence Minister Kang Sun Nam told state media the presence of strategic nuclear weapons in South Korea could trigger Pyongyang’s right to use nuclear arms under its laws, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Tensions Soar as Missile Tests Defy Sanctions
The standoff between North Korea and the US is heating up. Pyongyang has launched multiple ballistic missiles in recent weeks, flouting international sanctions and US protests. Last week’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch sparked a joint condemnation from the US, South Korea, and Japan.
US and South Korea Rally Nuclear Defense
In response, Washington and Seoul held their first Nuclear Consultative Group meeting this week. The White House vowed to maintain “extended deterrence” — a promise to protect South Korea from any North Korean nuclear strike. North Korea slammed the talks, warning they raise the risk of military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.
American Soldier Defects to North Korea in Bizarre Incident
Adding drama to the crisis, 23-year-old US soldier Travis King deliberately crossed into North Korea this week. King, who had been serving a prison sentence in South Korea for assault, skipped his flight home and fled across the Demilitarized Zone while on a tour group. US officials say he’s now in North Korean custody.
Diplomacy Stalled, Nuclear Threat Grows
High-level talks between the US and North Korea, once launched under former President Donald Trump, have stalled under Joe Biden’s administration. Both sides had pledged to pursue complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, but progress remains elusive.
North Korea first tested a nuclear weapon in 2006, defying international bans. Since then, the UN Security Council has passed numerous sanctions to curb its nuclear and missile programmes. However, last year, Russia and China blocked new penalties, claiming sanctions failed to halt Pyongyang’s ambitions.
