The DPRK Ministry of Defense accused the United States of exacerbating tension on the Korean Peninsula, which is bringing the situation in the region to a catastrophic and irreversible point, and could lead to a real war, the Central Telegraph Agency (KCNA) reports.
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“Recently, there have been continuous US military demonstrations in and around the Korean Peninsula targeting the DPRK, resulting in escalating military tensions in the region,” the head of the press service of the DPRK Ministry of Defense said in a message entitled “Taking self-defense measures to protect the situation.” State security is the constitutional duty of the DPRK armed forces.”
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The official listed recent actions by the United States and allies, including the US deployment of a carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington to the waters around the Korean Peninsula, the Freedom Edge military exercise with Japan and South Korea, and the deployment of the nuclear-powered submarine Columbia. “Los Angeles class” to the operating base in Busan, and the flight of a strategic reconnaissance aircraft on November 21 “RC-135S” in the airspace over the Sea of Japan.
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According to the DPRK Ministry of Defense, the United States thereby created an atmosphere of “nuclear confrontation” and committed aerial espionage in relation to the strategic depths of the territory of the DPRK.
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“The US military provocative acts committed on the Korean Peninsula, where large-scale armed forces of the warring parties remain extremely vigilant and there is the possibility of constant military clashes, are the reason that leads the situation in the region to an irreversible catastrophic situation,” the ministry added.
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The Ministry of Defense strongly demanded that the United States and its allies immediately stop further provocative and destabilizing hostile actions that could lead the military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and around it to a real armed conflict.
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According to the department, US actions cannot be considered only a show of force.
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“Today’s harsh military-political situation, when on a global scale US military adventurism is crossing a dangerous line, predicts that US military actions against our state could turn into a real war at any time,” the Ministry of Defense believes.
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The department stated that in such a situation, taking measures to protect the state’s security environment and maintain strategic stability and parity of forces in the region is the “constitutional duty” of the DPRK armed forces.
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It is noted that the DPRK army, being in full combat readiness, monitors the military actions of the United States and its allies, and if necessary, will “immediately take action” to preliminarily contain the danger.