North Korea condemns US arms sale to South Korea, vows strong response

North Korea's Foreign Ministry harshly criticized a recent US decision to sell missiles and related equipment to South Korea, stating they would respond "strongly and immediately" to any hostile acts, according to state media KCNA. This reaction comes amid renewed US President Donald Trump's approach to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has expressed interest in a new meeting.

Analysts note that North Korea has shown little interest in restarting talks. The ministry spokesperson emphasized that the US has consistently shown an "open attitude to be always hostile" towards the DPRK, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as North Korea officially refers to itself. The spokesperson's comments were in response to the US State Department's approval of a potential sale of $125 million worth of AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and associated equipment to South Korea, which Pyongyang considers a new threat to its security.

Kim Jong Un's regime also criticized a US plan to fund activities related to documenting its human rights situation and gathering information about the country, calling these efforts part of a campaign to destabilize its social system. The spokesperson noted that the US has approved weapon sales to South Korea this year, including advanced air-to-air missiles, naval helicopters, attack helicopters, and precision-guided bombs, while encouraging Seoul to strengthen its military capabilities.

The spokesperson added that North Korea is aware of these threats and will promptly and forcefully respond to any hostile actions in various spheres.