Nuclear Domino… North Korea vows to retaliate against Seoul and Washington

North Korea has condemned the security and trade agreement announced last week by South Korea and the United States, warning of a “nuclear domino”.

The agreement includes the development of nuclear-powered submarines and the expansion of Seoul’s authority to enrich uranium and reprocess spent fuel.

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According to the Korean Central News Agency, the move represents “a dangerous attempt at confrontation” and “a development that destabilizes the military and security situation in the Asia-Pacific region”. The agency asserted that the agreement would trigger a “nuclear domino effect” in the region and ignite a new arms race that would be difficult to control.

Pyongyang added that South Korea’s possession of nuclear submarines would lead to “a state of uncontrollable nuclear proliferation”, warning that “the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will take more realistic countermeasures” in response to what it described as US–South Korean escalation.

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A tense context

This escalation in rhetoric comes days after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced the completion of the security and trade agreement with Washington, which Seoul views as a step toward strengthening its strategic capabilities in the face of regional threats.

At the same time, North Korean media reported last October that the country had completed the ninth and final test of a ballistic missile engine, suggesting a possible full launch of an intercontinental missile in the coming months.

Despite the tensions, Seoul proposed on Monday to hold military talks with Pyongyang to prevent border clashes, marking the first such offer in seven years. However, North Korea’s latest warning reflects a higher level of political and military escalation amid a rapidly intensifying arms race in the region.

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