North Korea condemns U.S. planned sale of Apache attack helicopters to South as 'provocative'

North Korea condemned the recent U.S. approval to sell additional Apache attack helicopters to South Korea as a "reckless provocative act of deliberately increasing the security instability" in the region.

Apache choppers take off at U.S. Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Monday as South Korea and the United States kicked off the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise for an 11-day run to bolster their joint defense readiness amid advancing North Korean military threats. [NEWS1]

North Korea condemned the recent U.S. approval to sell additional Apache attack helicopters to South Korea as a "reckless provocative act of deliberately increasing the security instability" in the region.

The statement, issued by the spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, follows a U.S. announcement that the State Department had approved South Korea's purchase of $3.5 billion worth of 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related logistical and support elements through a government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) program. The approval came during the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) joint military exercise between Seoul and Washington, of which Pyongyang has long denounced as a rehearsal for an invasion.

The North Korean spokesperson criticized the U.S. military as being "contradictory," arguing that while the sale is meant to improve South Korea's military capabilities, it will not alter the fundamental military balance in the region, according to the English-language website of its state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The statement also issued a warning about the "consequences" that could arise from the military buildup.

Pyongyang threatened that increased U.S. efforts to supply war equipment to its regional allies would only strengthen North Korea's strategic deterrence, which is aimed to "protect national security and interests and the regional peace."

The regime vowed to continue "necessary military activities for self-defense" to control the resulting military imbalance and instability.

The AH-64E Apache, often referred to as a "tank killer," is considered the most advanced attack helicopter in existence, capable of conducting day and night operations in all weather conditions. The South Korean Army has been operating 36 Apache helicopters since their acquisition from the United States in January 2017.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]