North Korea has strongly criticized the expansion of the Republic of Korea (ROK)-U.S. alliance and the role of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), taking issue with USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson’s recent dagger in the heart of Asia remarks. Pyongyang also condemned ongoing discussions between Seoul and Washington on nuclear-powered submarine cooperation.
On Wednesday, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published an article by international affairs commentator Kim Myong-chol. The piece claimed Brunson’s statement exemplifies America’s hegemonic pursuits and Cold War mentality, highlighting South Korea’s role as a forward base for implementing the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.
Kim argued that Brunson’s recent comparison of South Korea to a dagger thrust into the heart of Asia and Japan to a shield was not an impromptu remark, but a reflection of America’s strategic view aimed at deterring China.
He asserted that the U.S. has viewed the Korean Peninsula as a military springboard for advancing into the Asian continent since the 1940s. After the Cold War, Kim claimed, Washington has focused on containing China through its Asia-Pacific rebalancing and Indo-Pacific strategies.
The article specifically criticized the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), U.S.-ROK joint exercises, and the reinforcement of USFK capabilities as measures to further incorporate South Korea into America’s anti-China strategy.
Kim alleged that since the 2000s, the U.S. has sought to transform USFK into a strategic mobile force and regional expeditionary force. He pointed out that the 2006 U.S.-ROK agreement on strategic flexibility laid the groundwork for deploying USFK beyond the Korean Peninsula. Kim added that a 2010 U.S. Department of Defense report formalized the possibility of dispatching USFK to other regions.
The article referenced language from last year’s 57th US-ROK Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) joint statement, including deterring regional threats and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the First Island Chain defense concept in the US National Security Strategy. Kim claimed these demonstrate how the U.S. is using South Korea as a key axis in its China containment strategy.
He also argued that the U.S. establishment of an expeditionary reconnaissance squadron operating MQ-9 Reaper drones in South Korea, the increased deployment of F-16 fighters, and the sale of MH-60R maritime helicopters and AH-64E Apache-related equipment are all part of this same strategy.
Kim asserted that recent U.S.-ROK discussions on nuclear-powered submarine cooperation and the integration of nuclear and conventional forces are directly linked to ensuring USFK’s strategic flexibility and effectively utilizing South Korea to deter China.
He claimed the U.S.-ROK alliance is a fundamental factor in raising military tensions and creating constant instability in the Asia-Pacific region. Kim argued that South Korea is at a strategic crossroads amid US-China competition and could find itself in a situation similar to Ukraine.
The article concluded by stating that the U.S. strategy to contain and deter China will amplify security concerns among regional countries and promote strengthened cooperation in response.