North Korea is warning that any efforts by the United States to interfere with weapons tests, would be a “clear declaration of war.” North Korea has vowed to respond with “overwhelming” military force should the U.S. military attempt to intercept missiles fired during test launches.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a senior figure in the ruling Workers’ Party, responded to a recent press report citing a high-ranking U.S. military official, who said the Pentagon would immediately intercept any long-range missile fired into the Pacific by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

“If a military response such as an interception follows our strategic weapons test, which is conducted without any harm to the safety of neighboring countries in the high seas and airspace not under the jurisdiction of the United States, this will undoubtedly be regarded as a clear declaration of war,” she said in comments carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). She added that the North would be closely watching all military movements by the U.S. and the “South Korean puppet army,” declaring Pyongyang is prepared to respond with “striking, swift and overwhelming action at any time,” according to a report by RT.

North Korea’s warning came hours after Washington and Seoul carried out their latest round of air drills in the region, which involved at least one nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber which flew alongside South Korean warplanes as a show of force against the DPRK. Similar exercises were also launched last Friday, including a US B-1B bomber, while yet another drill will be held next week to simulate a response to a North Korean missile attack.

Over the weekend, North Korea asked the United Nations to stop the drills altogether, calling on the international community to “strongly urge the U.S. and South Korea to immediately halt their provocative remarks and joint military exercises.” Kim Son-gyong, a top Foreign Ministry official, lamented that the global body has never condemned the war games despite their “clear aggressive nature.” North Korea also accused Washington and Seoul of “irresponsibly raising the level of confrontation” in the region. 

North Korea Vows To Use “All Necessary Measures” To Defend Itself

North Korea has been talking big for a long time while the U.S. continues to show that it doesn’t care and will use the military-industrial complex to do whatever it wants. This talk from North Korea is probably just that and not much more. However, we are living in interesting times.

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