In a response to President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress last week, North Korea warned on Sunday that the U.S. would face a “very grave situation” for Biden calling North Korea a security threat.
During his Wednesday speech, Biden said, “On Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programs that present a serious threat to America’s security and world security — we will be working closely with our allies to address the threats posed by both of these countries through diplomacy and stern deterrence.”
In a statement broadcast by North Korea’s KCNA and reported by the Associated Press, North Korean Foreign Ministry official Kwon Jong Gun said “[Biden’s] statement clearly reflects his intent to keep enforcing the hostile policy toward the DPRK as it had been done by the U.S. for over half a century.”
“It is certain that the U.S. chief executive made a big blunder in the light of the present-day viewpoint,” Kwon added. “Now that the keynote of the U.S. new DPRK policy has become clear, we will be compelled to press for corresponding measures, and with time the U.S. will find itself in a very grave situation.”
Kwon did not specify what “corresponding” measures North Korea would take against the U.S.
In March, North Korea reportedly launched a number of ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, to which Biden warned, “There will be responses if they choose to escalate. We will respond accordingly.”
Biden’s remarks about North Korea and its subsequent response come as the Biden administration completed its review of the U.S. policy towards North Korea. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Our goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Psaki said, “Our policy calls for a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with the DPRK, and to make practical progress that increases the security of the United States, our allies, and deployed forces. We have and will continue to consult with the Republic of Korea, Japan, and other allies and partners at every step along the way.”
On Sunday, Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told ABC News’ “This Week” that, “Our policy towards North Korea is not aimed at hostility. It’s aimed at solutions. It’s aimed at ultimately achieving the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.”
Sullivan said the Biden administration is “prepared to engage in diplomacy towards that ultimate objective, but work on practical measures that can help us make progress along the way towards that goal. And we believe that rather than all for all or nothing for nothing, a more calibrated, practical, measured approach stands the best chance of actually moving the ball down the field towards reducing the challenge posts by North Korea’s nuclear program.”
