North Korea threatens ‘powerful response’ to US arms sale to South Korea

North Korea has criticised planned US military and human rights initiatives involving South Korea, warning that Washington’s latest moves could further destabilise the region and trigger a powerful response.

The warning followed a US decision to approve the possible sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles and associated equipment to South Korea in a deal estimated at $125 million.

In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Pyongyang was concerned about the potential impact of the arms sale on regional security. “We cannot overlook the adverse effect of the US sale of its weapons to the ROK on the regional security environment,” the spokesperson said, using the official abbreviation for the Republic of Korea, South Korea.

Pyongyang also condemned Washington’s plans to provide funding for programmes focused on monitoring human rights conditions and expanding the flow of information into North Korea.

The US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor had announced an open funding competition for organisations seeking to document alleged rights violations in North Korea and challenge what it described as the country’s “information monopoly.” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of maintaining a pattern of hostile actions, arguing that the latest measures posed security concerns and were aimed at undermining the country’s internal stability. “The persistence and sequence of the US hostile moves” represented a growing threat, the ministry said, warning that Pyongyang “will make a serious, immediate and powerful response to the hostile acts.” The latest criticism comes despite recent efforts by US President Donald Trump to reopen dialogue with North Korea.

Trump has made several overtures to Pyongyang, including moves to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, but North Korean authorities have so far responded cautiously.

Relations between the two Koreas remain highly sensitive, with the peninsula technically still in a state of war.

The 1950–53 Korean War ended with an armistice agreement rather than a formal peace treaty.