One of North Korea’s top decision-making bodies is setting guidelines that call nuclear weapons “the nation’s life” that won’t be traded even for “billions of dollars”, even as the US has said it is in close touch with its South Korean allies and is prepared for any possible threat from Pyongyang.
“We’ve seen reports of a new and unconstructive statement from North Korea. We take these threats seriously and remain in close contact with our South Korean Allies,” said Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson of the National Security Council.
The North Korean statement on Sunday came after a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party attended by leader Kim Jong Un and other officials. It says nuclear weapons aren’t “goods for getting U.S. dollars” or a “political bargaining chip.” Outside analysts have said Pyongyang raises worries over its nuclear ambitions to spur nuclear-disarmament-for-aid talks.
The statement says Pyongyang will also increase work to build up economy. Kim has made fixing the moribund economy a focus. Pyongyang has issued a torrent of bellicose threats in recent weeks over US-South Korean military drills and UN sanctions that followed its recent nuclear test.
Meanwhile, Hayden said: “We would also note that North Korea has a long history of bellicose rhetoric and threats and today’s announcement follows that familiar pattern.” Referring to the statement by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Hayden said the US remains fully prepared and capable of protecting the country and its allies.
“We continue to take additional measures against the North Korean threat, including our plan to increase the US ground-based interceptors and early warning and tracking radar, and the signing of the ROK-US counter-provocation plan,” Hayden said. White House statement came after North Korea said that it was entering a state of war. According to North Korea’s official news agency, its leader, Kim Jong Un, after his meeting with his top commanders, said his country “would react to the US nuclear blackmail with a merciless nuclear attack, and war of aggression with an all-out war of justice.”