Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Press Statement

Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea released the following press statement on May 20:

The U.S. Nuclear Security Agency recently announced that the U.S. conducted a sub-critical nuclear test, the third of its kind under the present U.S. administration.

This is a dangerous act that renders the extremely worsening global security environment more unstable, having seriously negative impact on the strategic balance among major nuclear powers.

By doing so, the U.S. has revealed itself that it is its strategic goal to militarily control other countries with the unchallenged nuclear edge and that the present administration's commitment to alleviating the danger of strategic misjudgment and easing military tension by reducing its dependence on nuclear weapons is nothing but rhetoric.

The U.S. is not qualified to talk about a nuclear war threat from other country as it is the world's biggest nuclear weapons state and only nuclear weapon user which conducted nuclear tests more than any other countries in the world.

Last year, the U.S. deployed a strategic nuclear submarine in the Korean peninsula for the first time in several decades. It has frequently put into operation the "Nuclear Consultative Group" plotting to use nuclear weapons against the DPRK and is planning to stage actual nuclear operation exercises with the ROK in August.

What should never be overlooked is the U.S. recent sub-critical nuclear test's impact on the military security situation of the Korean peninsula as it has added new tension to the military showdown among nuclear weapons states, fomenting the international nuclear arms race.

To cope with the strategic instability in the region and the rest of the world caused by the U.S. unilateral action, the DPRK cannot but reconsider the measures necessary for the improvement of the overall nuclear deterrence posture within the range of its vested sovereign right and possible options.

The DPRK will not tolerate the creation of strategic imbalance and security vacuum in the Korean peninsula, but firmly defend its security, rights and interests through powerful deterrent action against the evolving nuclear threat from the U.S. -0-