North Korea criticised the United States over its arms sales and military support for Taiwan, accusing Washington of fuelling tensions in the Taiwan Strait, state media KCNA said on Wednesday.
A KCNA commentary citing North Korean international affairs analyst Kim Myong Chol said US policy on Taiwan was undermining peace and stability in the region.
The commentary condemned the appearance of US-sold fighter aircraft in Taiwan, saying the US “should think twice whether it is ready to stand in frontal confrontation with the powerful national power of the People’s Republic of China for the security of Taiwan and whether it can cope with its consequences.”
The first two of a batch of 66 new F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered in 2019 arrived in Taiwan last week, as Taiwan faces a rising military threat from Beijing.
In their Pyongyang summit in June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Chinese President Xi Jinping he would fully support the “One China” principle, which Beijing views as meaning that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one country, regardless of changes in the international situation.
The meeting also included a cautiously worded reference to defence links, with Xi saying both sides would enhance exchanges in diplomacy, law enforcement, military affairs and other fields, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.
China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and describes it as the “core of core issues” when it comes to Beijing’s relations with other countries, demanding no form of official engagement between Taiwanese and foreign leaders. Taiwan’s government says Beijing has no right to claim the island or try to represent it on the international stage.
China, a treaty ally of North Korea’s, has also repeatedly demanded Washington ends arms sales to Taiwan. The United States is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.