Seoul, 26 September (H.S.): North Korea has criticized growing military cooperation between the United States and South Korea, warning that South Korea could eventually become a target of “collective punishment.” The remarks were made by a North Korean official in response to recent comments by Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

According to South Korea’s state-run Yonhap News Agency, Kang Chol-su, section chief of North Korea’s Institute of Enemy State Studies, accused the United States in a statement carried by state media of using South Korea to advance its strategic objectives. He alleged that Washington was using South Korea as a key base for implementing its strategy in regional conflicts.

Kang cited remarks by Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, who had spoken about redesigning the security framework on the Korean Peninsula and emphasized the need for the United States and South Korea to work together to address threats originating outside the peninsula.

The North Korean official claimed that the remarks represented an effort to move beyond the longstanding justification of the U.S.-South Korea alliance as being limited to the defense of South Korea and instead link it to a broader “collective defense” framework. He also criticized South Korea’s increasing defense spending.

Kang said South Korea, which he described as a “decisive center for collective defense” in line with U.S. strategic interests, could eventually become a “decisive target of collective punishment.” The statement was issued by North Korea and did not provide details of any specific military action against South Korea.

The statement comes amid continued exchanges between the two sides over military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In recent days, North Korea has conducted ballistic missile launches, while South Korea, the United States and Japan have held consultations over North Korea’s missile activities.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar