Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated further after Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a scathing criticism of the US deployment of a nuclear submarine in South Korea. According to state media KCNA, Kim denounced the presence of the USS Vermont in the South Korean port of Busan as a blatant demonstration of US ambition to “bring out its nuclear strategic assets, show off its strength, and increase its threat.”
The USS Vermont arrived at a naval base in Busan on Monday, September 23, for resupply and crew rest, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Kim’s strong condemnation comes shortly after the foreign ministers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday. This meeting, likely focused on regional security and North Korea’s nuclear program, further fueled North Korea’s anxieties.
Kim’s remarks underscore the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has repeatedly expressed concern over the increasing US military presence in the region, viewing it as a direct threat to its security. This latest condemnation reinforces North Korea’s stance and highlights the precarious situation in the region, where a potential escalation of conflict remains a real possibility.
