North Korea Accuses NATO of Escalating Arms Race
North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the recent NATO summit, stating that the process of nuclear disarmament should not begin with their country, but must also include the nuclear programs of America’s allies. According to Reuters on Saturday, July 11, Pyongyang accused the US and its partners of expanding military alliances and fueling an arms race.
This reaction came after the NATO summit held in Turkey, where alliance officials announced agreements exceeding $50 billion in military procurement and defense industries. North Korea claims that NATO, by highlighting Pyongyang’s military activities as a “threat,” is creating conditions that increase tensions.
According to the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Western efforts to force North Korea to abandon its nuclear program have “ended,” and any discussions about disarmament must also include the possible nuclear programs of South Korea and Japan under US protection, as well as the nuclear arrangements of certain NATO members.
Pyongyang emphasized that to protect its sovereignty and security interests, it will enhance its nuclear capabilities both quantitatively and qualitatively. This stance is expressed while Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, has repeatedly stressed the modernization of the military and the expansion of the country’s military capacities in recent months.
