North Korea Blasts Washington Declaration as Threat to Peace
Pyongyang has slammed the recent Washington Declaration between South Korea and the US as a dangerous move that puts Northeast Asia on edge. The statement came from Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following the April 26 pact signed by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden.
US Nuclear Umbrella Tightens Over South Korea
The Washington Declaration boosts the US nuclear umbrella over South Korea amid rising fears of North Korean aggression. It includes the historic deployment of strategic assets—like a nuclear ballistic missile submarine docking at a South Korean port for the first time in decades—and regular joint military drills.
Kim Yo Jong Fires Back with Sharp Words
Kim Yo Jong warned the deal only raises the risk of war and instability in the region. “The more the enemies stage nuclear war exercises and deploy nuclear assets near the Korean Peninsula, the stronger our right to self-defense becomes,” she declared.
She didn’t hold back on personal insults either, deriding President Biden as an “old man with no future” and slamming South Korean President Yoon as a “fool.” Seoul’s government fired back, calling her remarks “far-fetched” and a sign of Pyongyang’s mounting frustration.
Tensions Could Spike, Experts Warn
North Korea continues to flaunt sanctions while advancing its banned nuclear and missile programs. Last year, it labelled itself an “irreversible” nuclear power, dashing hopes for denuclearisation talks.
In response, Washington and Seoul have escalated defence cooperation with stealth jets and high-profile assets. Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute told AFP Kim Yo Jong’s comments could herald a return to the tense brinkmanship last seen in 2017. He added the statement was also a clear protest against Biden’s warning of regime collapse should Pyongyang launch a nuclear attack.
