North Korea has warned that South Korea could become a “decisive target” for collective retaliation if it develops into a key hub for a US-led collective defence system, state media KCNA reported on Friday.
In a KCNA commentary, Kang Chol Su, described as a department director at the Institute for Enemy State Studies, accused the United States of turning South Korea into a base for pursuing what he called global hegemony.
Kang also alleged that Washington was using South Korea as a platform for deploying forces to overseas conflicts, while criticising joint military exercises and US troop deployments on the Korean Peninsula.
The commentary cited remarks by the commander of US Forces Korea describing South Korea as a key centre of collective defence.
According to KCNA, North Korea has prepared countermeasures and would “ruthlessly crush” what it considers challenges to its security.
US Forces Korea had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The United States currently stations about 28,500 military personnel in South Korea as part of efforts to deter potential aggression from North Korea.
