Pyongyang, June 12 (STL.News) – North Korea’s foreign ministry condemned a U.S. decision to approve the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to South Korea, warning the move would worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula, state media KCNA said on Saturday.
The U.S. State Department recently approved a nearly $300 million foreign military sale, specifically including 70 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM systems, to bolster South Korea’s defensive capabilities.
The director-general for external policy at North Korea’s foreign ministry said in a statement carried by KCNA that military cooperation between Washington and Seoul was being systematically strengthened despite international concern over the volatility in the region.
Pyongyang characterized the transaction as an aggressive maneuver that threatens the security of the peninsula. North Korea routinely interprets joint U.S.-South Korean military collaboration, exercises, and arms sales as direct preparations for a potential conflict.
This specific sale involves the AIM-120C-8 variant, designed to fit inside the internal weapons bays of South Korea’s fleet of F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters. These beyond-visual-range missiles are capable of reaching speeds exceeding Mach 4 and utilize active internal radar homing for terminal guidance.
The “F3R” or Form, Fit, and Function Refresh model incorporates updated processors and circuit boards, addressing obsolescence issues found in earlier versions. The system offers significant autonomy, allowing pilots to disengage after launch while the weapon completes its flight path.
“U.S. arms exports are war exports,” the official stated, adding that North Korea would continue strengthening its self-defensive deterrent to maintain the regional balance of power.
This announcement follows closely on the heels of a separate $106 million U.S. sale of JDAM precision-guided munitions to Seoul, an agreement Pyongyang also heavily criticized. The North Korean government maintains that such actions undermine stability and force the nation to accelerate its own military development to ensure its sovereignty.
