North Korea Threatens to Strengthen Nuclear Deterrence in Response to U.S. 'Tactical Nuclear Weapons' Strategy, Voices Discontent Over ROK-US UFS Exercise

[Financial News] North Korea threatened to strengthen its self-defensive nuclear deterrent in response to the United States' strategy of bolstering tactical nuclear weapons in Northeast Asia. It cited as reasons the U.S. adoption of nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations guidelines with South Korea on the Korean Peninsula, the operation of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), and the provision of extended deterrence involving nuclear assets to Japan.
The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 14th that a "military commentator" made the claim in a commentary released the previous day titled, "The United States' New Nuclear Strategy Is a Serious Threat Driving the Global Security Environment to the Brink of Nuclear War."
The military commentator cited foreign media reports saying the United States is discussing a new nuclear strategy that places greater emphasis on low-yield tactical nuclear weapons. He claimed that this shows the U.S. nuclear strategy is shifting more aggressively from so-called "deterrence missions" to "actual use."
He also warned that "the United States' new nuclear doctrine is a grave risk factor that seriously undermines the global nuclear balance, intensifies the nuclear arms race, and drives the global security environment to the brink of nuclear war."
He further claimed that it "foretells that the Korean Peninsula could become the primary target of the United States' new nuclear strategy."
He then said that "dramatically enhancing the versatility, functionality and practicality of nuclear forces is the best course of action to maintain the balance of power with hostile states and safeguard our country's security and regional peace."
The military commentator warned that "the strongest offensive power is the most reliable defensive power," adding that it would "continuously make hostile states aware of the catastrophic consequences that would follow any reckless choice against our country."
North Korea also threatened to continuously expand and strengthen its self-defensive nuclear deterrent, saying it can thoroughly defeat any nuclear threat.
Meanwhile, North Korea also expressed displeasure over the ROK-US Combined Military Exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS), scheduled for this month. In a statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson released through the Korean Central News Agency, it stressed that "the trilateral military cooperation system among the United States, Japan and South Korea, which is being transformed into a nuclear alliance, and the military buildup by Japan and South Korea are further highlighting the dangers of the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise, which mobilizes all military assets and methods of warfare possessed by the United States and South Korea."
The ministry also specifically mentioned that this UFS includes field training exercises under the name "Warrior Shield" and involves advanced equipment such as drones.
UFS is a regular ROK-US joint exercise for the defense of the Korean Peninsula in the event of an emergency, and this year's drill will be held from the 17th to the 27th. In protest, North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the East Sea on the 6th and 12th.

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