North Korea accuses US ally of 'blatant interference'
North Korea has accused U.S. allies of stepping up surveillance and "blatant interference" in the country and the region under the guise of monitoring U.N. sanctions.
North Korea's state news agency KCNA cited a Foreign Ministry statement Thursday calling on Britain, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand and Australia to immediately stop "blatant military intervention in the Asia-Pacific region" by citing monitoring enforcement of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang.
"North Korea will take necessary measures to thoroughly safeguard the country's sovereignty and security against such surveillance activities," KCNA quoted the statement as saying.
North Korea's comments came after South Korea's Defense Ministry said it and Britain conducted joint patrols in waters near the Korean peninsula in April to enforce U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against Pyongyang.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over the weekend visited arms factories, personally inspecting a variety of weapons such as sniper rifles and rocket launchers, according to KCNA. Accompanied by senior North Korean officials, including his powerful sister Kim Yo-jong, Kim praised the quality of weapons and called on factories to successfully implement production plans
Kim last month also led a tactical drill, simulating North Korea's nuclear counterattack for the first time to warn the enemy. KCNA said the goal of the drills was to demonstrate diverse nuclear capabilities, opposing "provocative, aggressive" joint drills by the US and South Korea.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have recently increased. Earlier this year, Kim called South Korea North Korea's main enemy and warned the country had "no intention of avoiding war." The two sides also stepped up border security and conducted large-scale live-fire drills.
North Korea furious over 'increased surveillance' by US allies
North Korea has vowed to take necessary steps to safeguard its sovereignty and security in the face of moves by its Washington allies.
On the morning of May 13, North Korea condemned increased surveillance of Pyongyang by U.S. allies under the guise of monitoring violations of U.N. sanctions, according to Reuters news agency quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The North Korean Foreign Ministry statement quoted by KCNA said Pyongyang demanded that Britain, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand and Australia immediately stop "blatant military intervention in the Asia-Pacific region" by using U.N. sanctions as a pretext.
"The DPRK will take necessary measures to fully safeguard its sovereignty and security in relation to such surveillance," KCNA stressed. South Korea's Defense Ministry said South Korea and Britain conducted joint maritime patrols in waters near the Korean peninsula in April to enforce U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
Separately, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited weapons factories on May 11 and 12, personally inspecting weapons such as sniper rifles and rocket launchers.
Kim, along with senior North Korean officials, praised the quality of the weapons and urged factories to implement production plans, according to KCNA.
