North Korea vowed to “physically” respond to the deployment of a USA anti-missile defense system in South Korea, a first remark from Pyongyang regarding THAAD since a decision was announced on Friday.
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North Korea warned of the “unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike” if the USA and South Korea’s joint Thaad system is used.
Seoul and Washington officials say they need the missile system to better deal with what they call increasing North Korean military threats. The channel has been an intermittent point of mediation for both who remain technically at war since the 1950-53 US-Korean War ended with a truce.
Tensions are high since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches.
North Korea on Sunday made the statement in a message to the United States denouncing recent sanctions against Pyongyang, which “impaired the dignity of the supreme leadership” of the country, Xinhua news agency reported.
All matters related to the United States, including the handling of US citizens detained by Pyongyang, will be conducted under its “wartime law”, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.
USA and South Korean officials say THAAD only targets North Korea, but China and Russian Federation suspect it could also help U.S. radars detect their own missiles.
It will handle all matters, including any discussions about two Americans it has detained, under wartime laws, it said.
Further, the state-run KCNA reported all USA citizens now being detained in Pyongyang would be treated according to the rules of “wartime law”, various media outlets reported.
The U.S. placed personal sanctions on Kim and several other North Korean officials last week.
North Korea’s response confirms the decision to deploy THAAD was the right choice, the Defense Department spokesman added.
Seoul and Washington had on Friday revealed their decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the South following recent North Korean missile and nuclear tests.
China and Russian Federation oppose the system that they believe helps USA radar track missiles in their countries.
North Korea drew global ire in January this year, when it declared that it had successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb.
On Monday, North Korea warned it will take unspecified “physical” measures once the location for THAAD is announced.
The move to deploy THAAD also drew a swift and sharp protest from China.
“Any excuse for the deployment (of THAAD) would be unjustified”, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.
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South Korean President Park Geun-Hye however defended the move as a “purely defensive” action aimed at protecting the South.
