North Korea calls out US as main instigator of regional tensions

The North Korean Foreign Ministry has labelled the United States as the primary "instigator" of escalating tensions in the region.

“The U.S. will bear full responsibility for escalating the situation on the Korean Peninsula to an uncontrollable level,” stated the head of the DPRK Foreign Ministry's foreign policy department, Caliber.Az reports via North Korean state-run media.

The ministry criticized U.S. and South Korean military exercises as offensive and aggressive, describing them as significant military provocations that are alarming in scale and nature.

Tensions have intensified following the deployment of the U.S. Navy's super-large nuclear aircraft carrier, CVN-73 “George Washington,” to the region.

In a related development, Il Ha Kim, the DPRK's first secretary at its UN mission, dismissed allegations from the U.S. and its allies claiming that North Korea had sent troops to Russia. On October 21, North Korea addressed these accusations for the first time, labelling South Korea's claims about troop deployments to support Russia in Ukraine as “groundless rumours.” Pyongyang affirmed that its relations with Moscow are “legitimate and based on cooperation.”

The Kremlin has also refuted claims of North Korean involvement, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling it yet another “information leak.”

Additionally, on October 24, the Russian State Duma ratified a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korea. According to the treaty, both nations pledge to provide military or other necessary assistance if attacked by a third country. It also allows for joint exercises and collaboration in various sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare, sports, tourism, counter-terrorism, and information security.

The ratification was approved unanimously by the deputies, with 397 votes in favour and no opposition. “It is crucial for our colleagues in the DPRK to understand the position of deputies representing the citizens of the Russian Federation. We want our relations to continue to develop comprehensively and on an allied basis,” emphasized Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma, during the session.

This treaty was introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 14.

It was signed on June 19, 2024, during his visit to North Korea.

By Tamilla Hasanova