North Korea on Tuesday denounced U.S.-led efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, calling them an "absurd" pursuit and vowing to expand its nuclear arsenal. The statement from Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry came after a high-level security meeting in Munich, where the U.S., South Korea, and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to countering North Korea's weapons program through sanctions and enhanced military cooperation.
The ministry accused Washington of pushing an "outdated and absurd plan" and warned of "overwhelming and decisive counteraction" if it perceives a threat to its security. The North will “consistently adhere to the new line of bolstering the nuclear force established by Kim Jong Un and thoroughly deter the U.S. and its vassal forces," the statement read. Pyongyang's rhetoric follows an escalation of tensions, including North Korea's recent advancements in intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, alongside his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, emphasized their commitment to the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea during the security conference in Germany. A joint statement issued afterward highlighted expanded trilateral military exercises and efforts to enhance Japan and South Korea's defense capabilities. The reaffirmation of sanctions enforcement signals a continued hardline approach, despite Pyongyang's continued defiance.
North Korea's weapons development has accelerated, with analysts pointing to the successful test launches of the solid-fueled Hwasong-18 and Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The latter, launched in October, is believed to be capable of striking targets across North America. "North Korea continues to defy the international nonproliferation regime and advance its strategic weapons program," General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, stated before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week.
Guillot warned that the Hwasong-19 "probably can deliver a nuclear payload to targets throughout North America while minimizing our ability to provide pre-launch warning due to the shortened launch preparation timelines afforded by its solid-propellant design." He further cautioned that Pyongyang's shift toward mass production of such weapons could challenge the U.S. missile defense system in the coming years.
In response, North Korea's defense ministry accused Washington of fabricating threats to justify its own military ambitions. "We express serious concern over the U.S. military's confrontational behavior in fabricating the so-called 'threat' from the DPRK and justifying its adventurous military ambition to gain superiority in the region under this pretext," the ministry said in a statement published in state media.
The statement cited recent U.S. military actions, including joint drills with South Korea and Japan, intelligence-sharing agreements on missile detection, and visits by U.S. nuclear submarines to South Korean ports, as evidence of hostile intent. "The strategic armed forces of the DPRK are for defense, guaranteeing the security of the state and the strategic balance of the region," North Korea's defense ministry asserted.
North Korea's foreign policy in recent months has leaned heavily toward strengthening ties with Russia, amid growing concerns that Pyongyang could be supplying Moscow with weapons in exchange for economic aid or military technology. A diplomatic delegation led by Kim Ik Song, director of the Bureau for Affairs with Diplomatic Corps, departed for Russia on Monday, signaling continued engagement between the two countries. South Korean officials fear the arrangement could further accelerate North Korea's weapons development.
The latest remarks from Pyongyang come amid speculation about how a potential second Trump administration might approach North Korea. Trump's previous summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 failed to yield a long-term denuclearization agreement, and talks collapsed over disagreements on sanctions relief. Some experts believe that any future engagement between Trump and Kim would be complicated by North Korea's deepening ties with Russia and China.
Kim's willingness to align with Russia could further shift regional dynamics, particularly if a new round of U.S.-China trade tensions reignites. "North Korea's nuclear program is no longer an independent issue but connected with broader challenges created by Russia's war on Ukraine and further complicated by weakened sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang," one expert noted.
The broader geopolitical landscape has also been shaped by the U.S. administration's renewed focus on missile defense. In a January 27 executive order, Trump directed officials to review America's missile defense strategy, expand cooperation with allies, and advance the development of an "Iron Dome for America"-a system he claims will deter adversaries through a stronger second-strike capability.
