US watchful for ‘gray zone’ activities of North Korea

The United States remains “always watchful” for the possibility of North Korea conducting “gray zone” activities short of a major attack, a U.S. diplomat said Monday, restating Washington sees no signs of the recalcitrant regime preparing for a near-term attack.

U.S. Senior Official for North Korea Jung Pak made the remarks amid concerns that Pyongyang could undertake major provocations ahead of South Korea’s parliamentary elections next month and the U.S. presidential election in November.

“I don’t think we are on the precipice of war. We don’t see any signals or evidence of a near-term attack. I also don’t think it’s in (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un’s interest to launch a war,” she said during an online forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“But of course, we are always watchful for anything below that — the gray zone activities,” she added.

Pak stressed that the North will “manufacture a reason for provocative actions to fit their political needs or their technical needs.”

Referring to the North’s highstakes defense projects unveiled at a key ruling party congress in early 2021, Pak noted that Pyongyang has a “to-do-list” when it comes to its weapons tests.

“They’ve also, since January of 2021, said that they are going to do a whole series of tests and develop new technologies,” she said. “Hypersonic system is one … the underwater nuclear vehicles, the solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile system, the military reconnaissance satellite.”

The U.S. is “incredibly concerned” about all of these developments, she stressed. What has also been worrisome is the North’s hostile rhetoric that has accompanied missile and other weapons tests, Pak said.

“Kim Jong-un, since late last year, has talked about reunification out of the question now that South Korea is their primary enemy, which is different from their longstanding policy of reunification at some point,” she said.

Despite the North’s provocative acts, the U.S. envoy highlighted the need to engage in diplomacy with the regime.