North Korea warns NZ over ‘interference’
North Korea has issued a warning to New Zealand to stop “military interference” in the Asia-Pacific region.
A statement released by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Ministry yesterday to the Korean Central News Agency condemned allies of the US and their heightened surveillance of the nation.
“The US allies have recently made their military interference in the AsiaPacific region undisguised under the pretext of monitoring violation of UN sanctions, further worsening instability of the regional situation.”
It said New Zealand, Germany and France had “dispatched their warships and warplanes” to the region, “encroaching upon the security interests of regional countries and escalating the military tension in the region”. It explicitly mentioned the UK, Canada and Australia.
“In particular, an Australian warship, dispatched to the waters around the Korean peninsula, let a military helicopter go into action and threaten the maritime and air security of a surrounding country, thus creating the possibility of a dangerous armed conflict,” the statement read.
The DPRK Foreign Ministry said it had serious concern over the “irresponsible behaviour” of some countries, urging them to immediately stop “provocations”.
“The DPRK will take necessary measures to firmly defend the sovereignty and security of the state.”
The Herald has approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
It comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week supervised another test-firing of a new multiple rocket launch system the country plans to deploy this year.
North Korea in recent months has maintained an accelerated pace in weapons testing as it expands its military capabilities while diplomacy with the US and South Korea remains stalled.