North Korea slams US sale of Apache helicopters to South Korea as 'provocative'
1. Official accused Washington of escalating military confrontation and "disturbing the military balance"
SEOUL: North Korea's foreign ministry condemned the U.S.'s planned sale of Apache helicopters to South Korea, as reported by state media KCNA on Friday. The ministry vowed to take further measures to enhance its self-defense capabilities.
Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. State Department had approved a potential sale of Apache helicopters, along with logistics and support, to South Korea, valued at approximately $3.5 billion.
In a statement released Thursday, a senior North Korean foreign ministry official, who remains unnamed, criticized the arms sale, describing it as a move that exacerbates tensions, especially amid ongoing annual military drills between the U.S. and South Korea.
"This is a reckless and provocative act that deliberately heightens regional security instability," the official said, as quoted by KCNA.
The official accused Washington of escalating military tensions and "disrupting the military balance, thereby increasing the risk of a new conflict" in the region by supplying lethal weapons to its allies.
The statement concluded with a pledge to further strengthen Pyongyang's "strategic deterrence" to safeguard national security and regional peace, emphasizing a continued commitment to enhancing military capabilities for self-defense.
