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North Korea has issued a warning to New Zealand to stop “military interference” in the Asia-Pacific region.
A statement released by the DPRK foreign ministry on Monday to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) condemned allies of the United States and their heightened surveillance of the nation.
“TheUS 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.”
The statement said New Zealand, Germany and France had “dispatched their warships and warplanes to the Asia-Pacific region”, including 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”.
It also mentioned the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia explicitly.
“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 the possibility of a dangerous armed conflict,” the statement read.
The DPRK foreign ministry said it expresses serious concern over the “irresponsible behaviour” of some countries and urged them to immediately stop the “provocations of causing tension and instability”.
“The DPRK will take necessary measures to firmly defend the sovereignty and security of the state.”
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the New Zealand Government has consistently outlined New Zealand’s opposition to the DPRK’s missile and nuclear programmes.
“These programmes are in direct contravention of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. The United Nations Security Council sanctions regime is a key element of the global effort to peacefully apply pressure on North Korea to denuclearise and abandon its ballistic missile programme.”
The spokesperson said an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft engaged in monitoring and surveillance activities of illicit maritime activities from mid-April to early May this year, including ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels, prohibited by the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“This follows New Zealand’s regular contributions to sanctions monitoring in 2018, 2019 and 2021.”
It comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week supervised another test firing of a new multiple rocket launch system the country plans to deploy to its forces starting this year.
KCNA said Friday’s test confirmed the “advantage and destructive power” of the 240mm multiple rocket launcher and its guided shells.
North Korea in recent months has maintained an accelerated pace in weapons testing as it expands its military capabilities while diplomacy with the United States and South Korea remains stalled.
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.
