Criticism Of US Nuclear Submarines In South Korea, North Korean Leader's Younger Brother: ROK Ports And Military Bases Are Not Safe Places

Kim Yo-jong. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - Kim Yo-jong, the younger brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Tuesday he would increase the country's nuclear war capabilities, taking other steps to protest the halt of US nuclear submarines in South Korea.

In a statement broadcast by state media, Kim Yo-jong said that the arrival of the submarine "clearly revealed US military and strategic panic efforts," reported by The Korea Times Sept. 24.

He said North Korea's nuclear war prevention must be strengthened "both in quality and quantity continuously and indefinitely" in response.

"The US strategic asset will never find its resting place in the Korean Peninsula," he said.

"We will continue to inform that all ports and ROK military bases are not safe places," he added, warning, using the abbreviation of the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

His comments suggest North Korea may be testing missiles whose range covers the location of South Korea where US submarines docked, some observers said.

North Korea has repeatedly pledged to increase its nuclear arsenal. However, the latest threat by Kim Yo-jong comes after Pyongyang stepped up regional tensions by uncovering uranium enrichment facilities and testing new ballistic missiles earlier this month.

Earlier, the South Korean military said earlier on Tuesday the USS Vermont, a nuclear-powered submarine and a fast attack belonging to Uncle Sam's country arrived in the port city of Busan the day before, to reload supplies and give its crew a chance to rest.

Kim's published remarks came after South Korea's foreign ministers, the United States, and Japan held a meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

They expressed concern about the recent disclosure of North Korea's uranium enrichment facility and continued "law-violating" military cooperation with Russia, agreeing to work towards a trilateral summit this year, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The temporary placement of strong US military assets such as aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and bombers to South Korea is nothing strange. However, Washington has stepped it up over the past year in a show of force against North Korea's growing nuclear threat.

Pyongyang often responded to the visit angrily, calling it proof of hostile intent, and reacting with missile tests.