Seoul [South Korea], February 11: The Defense Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on February 11 accused the United States of once again posing a serious security threat by sending a nuclear submarine to South Korea, according to Reuters.
A spokesman for the North Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement that the appearance of a US nuclear-powered submarine on the Korean peninsula showed that the US was always too agitated in its confrontation with North Korea.
"We express serious concern over the dangerous hostile military action of the US that could lead the acute military confrontation in the area around the Korean peninsula into an actual armed conflict," KCNA news agency quoted the statement as saying.
Also according to the statement from the North Korean Ministry of Defense, the country's armed forces will "not hesitate to exercise their legitimate right to punish the provocateurs".
The US attack submarine USS Alexandria has docked in the South Korean city of Busan to resupply and rest its crew, South Korean media reported on February 10, citing the South Korean Navy. The South Korean Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation or reaction to the information.
According to the US Navy, the USS Alexandria submarine of the country's Pacific Fleet is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles .
North Korea regularly criticizes the presence of US weapons and joint US-South Korea military exercises. On February 9, North Korea warned of "undesirable consequences" in criticizing a series of drills between the US and its allies.
North Korea has made many tough statements since Donald Trump took office as US president on January 20, although Trump revealed that he would approach North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for direct dialogue, according to Reuters.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
