SEOUL, Aug 27 - North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a forceful rebuke on Thursday after the U.S. State Department approved a potential arms sale to South Korea, KCNA reported. The ministry accused Washington of maintaining an open posture of hostility toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and warned of a rapid and forceful response to what it described as hostile acts in various spheres.
The ministry's spokesperson, in comments carried by KCNA, said: "We once again and clearly recognized the expression of the U.S. open attitude to be always hostile to the DPRK." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.
The complaint was lodged in reaction to U.S. approval of a proposed $125 million sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air tactical missiles and related equipment to South Korea. Pyongyang described that potential transfer as "a new threat" to its security environment.
In addition to the missile sale, the North criticised a plan by the United States to finance work that documents North Korea's human rights situation and gathers information on the country. The Foreign Ministry characterized these activities as components of a campaign aimed at creating instability within the North's social system.
The spokesperson also catalogued other U.S.-approved sales to South Korea this year, saying Washington had cleared transfers of advanced air-to-air missiles, naval helicopters, attack helicopters and precision-guided bombs. The ministry framed these approvals as part of U.S. efforts to encourage Seoul to enhance its war-fighting capabilities.
"Now that the military integration of the U.S. and its allies is being accelerated in the Asia-Pacific region, we cannot overlook the adverse effect of the U.S. sale of its weapons to the ROK on the regional security environment," the spokesperson said, using the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
Concluding the statement, the official warned that North Korea was mindful of the perceived threats and would take a "serious, immediate and powerful response" to hostile actions across different spheres.
The public remarks come as U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying he is interested in holding another meeting and stating this month that Kim had responded to his outreach. Analysts cited in reports say that Pyongyang has displayed limited official willingness to resume negotiations.