Press Statement of Section Chief for External Policy of DPRK Foreign Ministry

Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- The section chief for external policy of the DPRK Foreign Ministry released the following press statement on Sunday:

The U.S. allies have recently made their military interference in the Asia-Pacific region undisguised under the pretext of monitoring violation of UN sanctions, further worsening instability of the regional situation.

A few days ago, the UK staged a naval operation drill with the ROK by dispatching its naval forces into the waters around the Korean peninsula, talking about the implementation of the UNSC "sanctions resolution" against the DPRK. In the wake of it, Canada is scheming to deploy a sea-patrol plane at a military base of Japan to conduct surveillance over the waters around the Korean peninsula.

Meanwhile, such allies of the U.S. as Germany, France and New Zealand have also dispatched their warships and warplanes to the Asia-Pacific region including the waters around the Korean peninsula one after another this year, encroaching upon the security interests of regional countries and escalating the military tension in the region.

In particular, an Australian warship, dispatched to the waters around the Korean peninsula, let a military helicopter go into action and threaten the maritime and air security of a surrounding country, thus creating possibility of a dangerous armed conflict.

Such military intervention, conducted by the above-said countries under the pretext of implementing the so-called UNSC "resolution" and abiding by international laws, is contrary to the purpose and principle of the UN Charter with sovereign equality and non-interference as its core and poses a visible threat to peace and security in the Korean peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.

The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK expresses serious concern over the irresponsible behaviors of some countries taking advantage of the U.S. hostile policy and hegemonic strategy against independent sovereign states and urges them to immediately stop the provocations of causing tension and instability.

The reality, in which some Western countries dispatch their military forces into the areas around the DPRK geopolitically far from them and exercise their military muscle, gives us many suggestions.

If the intervention by force is their policy against the DPRK, it cannot but reconsider its policy stand toward them in line with its interests.

The DPRK will take necessary measures to firmly defend the sovereignty and security of the state on the basis of a rigorous analysis of the negative influence being caused by the grave acts of some countries including Canada, Australia, UK, Germany and France taking part in the so-called "activities of monitoring sanctions against the DPRK".

Western countries should ponder over the fact that their unreasonable and blind policy of following the U.S. is an act of harming their own interests. -0-