North Korea threatens increased nuclear deterrence as US aircraft carrier docks in South Korea

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a strong warning on March 4, vowing a “stepped-up action” against the US following the arrival of the USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier, in South Korea.

She stated that the "hostile" policies of the US toward North Korea were driving the country to further strengthen its nuclear capabilities, Caliber.Az reports referring to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The USS Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class US aircraft carrier, docked in the southeastern port city of Busan on March 2.

Kim Yo Jong described the US aircraft carrier’s deployment as a demonstration of Washington’s “most hostile and confrontational will,” heightening tensions between the two countries.

"The current hostile actions by the US are providing ample justification for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to indefinitely bolster its nuclear deterrent," Kim stated.

She also said that the DPRK was considering “increasing actions threatening the security of the enemy at the strategic level,” warning that if US military provocations persisted, North Korea would be “compelled to renew its strategic deterrence measures.”

In response, South Korea condemned Kim Yo Jong’s remarks, accusing her of trying to justify North Korea's military provocations. The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated that North Korea’s criticisms of US military activities, such as the deployment of the aircraft carrier and joint drills with South Korea, were mere “sophistry” designed to legitimize its missile and nuclear development.

“North Korea’s nuclear development can never be accepted,” the ministry said in a statement. “The only way for the North to survive is to abandon its obsession with nuclear weapons.”

The statement continued: “If North Korea conducts provocations under the pretext of South Korea-US defence drills, it will be met with overwhelming retaliation.”

The USS Carl Vinson’s visit, part of the US military’s broader strategy to reinforce its deterrence commitments, marked the first time a US aircraft carrier had visited South Korea since President Donald Trump’s return to office in January. Accompanying the carrier were the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett.

The South Korean navy emphasized that the visit aimed to reinforce the US extended deterrence pledge and demonstrate a strong defence alliance in the face of ongoing North Korean threats. Both countries planned to enhance interoperability and conduct friendly activities during the visit.

This visit follows Carl Vinson’s last stop in South Korea in November 2023, which occurred just hours before North Korea successfully launched its first military spy satellite into orbit after two failed attempts.