US military slams ‘destabilising’ North Korea missile launch; North threatens ‘offensive action’

SEOUL – The US military said on Nov 8 that it was “consulting closely” with allies and partners following North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch.

“While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilising impact” of North Korea’s actions, said the US Indo-Pacific Command in a statement.

A day earlier, North Korea

fired a ballistic missile towards the sea

off its east coast, following fresh US sanctions against North Korean individuals and entities that Washington said were involved in cyber-related money-laundering schemes.

Pyongyang’s latest missile launch, which Japan said landed outside its exclusive economic zone, came just over a week after US President Donald Trump was in the region and expressed interest in a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Mr Trump also announced during his trip that he had approved South Korea’s plan to

build a nuclear-powered submarine

.

Analysts say developing a nuclear-powered submarine would mark a significant leap in South Korea’s naval and defence industrial base, joining a select group of countries with such vessels.

Pyongyang, which has developed closer ties with Russia during Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, did not respond to

Mr Trump’s offer

to meet Mr Kim.

North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol threatened on Nov 8 to take “more offensive action” as he condemned US security talks with Seoul and the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea.

He said the visit of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington to Busan in South Korea this week escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula.

“We will show more offensive action against the enemies’ threat on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace by dint of powerful strength,” Mr No said, according to North Korean state media outlet KCNA.

South Korea’s navy said the carrier’s visit was to replenish supplies and grant leave for the crew.

Mr No also criticised a recent visit by US and South Korean defence chiefs to the border between North and South Korea, as well as their

subsequent security talks in Seoul

, alleging they were conspiring to step up deterrence efforts towards the North and to integrate their nuclear and conventional forces.

“This is a stark revelation and an unveiled intentional expression of their hostile nature to stand against the DPRK to the end,” No said, referring to the country’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back on Nov 3 visited the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone along the border with North Korea.

The officials also held what they called a security consultative meeting in Seoul on Nov 4.

Mr Hegseth said the core of the alliance with Seoul will remain focused on deterring North Korea, although Washington will look at flexibility for US troops stationed in South Korea to operate against regional threats.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry on Nov 8 later said that it condemns North Korea’s launch of a missile towards the sea off the North’s east coast, urging the communist neighbour to stop escalating inter-Korea tension.

It also said in a statement that it was regrettable that Pyongyang slammed the US-South Korea annual joint drill and meeting. AFP, REUTERS