Politics
North Korea has criticized the United States over its provision of weapons and military support to Taiwan, saying Washington’s policies are increasing tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
North Korea has criticized the United States over its provision of weapons and military support to Taiwan, saying Washington’s policies are increasing tensions across the Taiwan Strait. According to Reuters, North Korean state media, citing an analysis, said the presence of U.S. fighter jets in Taiwan was undermining peace and stability in the region. Pyongyang warned Washington that it should consider the potential consequences of a direct confrontation with China under the pretext of ensuring Taiwan’s security.
The statement came after the first two of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States arrived in Taiwan last week. Taiwan has been facing increasing military pressure from China. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his full support for the “One China” principle during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in June. China considers Taiwan part of its territory, while Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s claim.
Meanwhile, North Korea has also announced that it will continue strengthening its relations and cooperation with Russia. According to state media, Kim Jong Un said in a birthday message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Pyongyang would further expand cooperation between the two countries under their comprehensive strategic partnership. Kim described Russia’s war as a “sacred war for justice” and said he was confident that Russia would succeed in defending its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. However, his message did not directly mention the ongoing war in Ukraine. According to Reuters, estimates by Ukraine and South Korea indicate that North Korea has sent approximately 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine since 2024.
