SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed Tuesday to boost the country鈥檚 nuclear war capability and take other steps to protest the recent arrival of a nuclear-powered U.S. submarine in South Korea.
North Korea has repeatedly vowed to expand its nuclear arsenal, but the latest threat by Kim Yo Jong came after North Korea dialed up regional tensions by unveiling and testing earlier this month.
In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said that the submarine's visit 鈥渃learly reveals the frantic military and strategic attempt of the U.S.鈥 She said North Korea鈥檚 nuclear war deterrent must be bolstered 鈥渂oth in quality and quantity continuously and limitlessly鈥 in response.
鈥淭he U.S. strategic assets will never find their resting place in the region of the Korean Peninsula,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e will continue to inform that all the ports and military bases of the ROK are not safe places." ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea鈥檚 formal name.
Her comments suggested North Korea may test-fire a missile whose range covers a South Korean site where the U.S. submarine is docked, some observers say.
South Korea鈥檚 military said the USS Vermont, a nuclear-powered and fast-attack submarine, arrived at the southeastern South Korean port city of Busan on Monday to take on supplies and allow its crew to rest.
Temporary deployments of like aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines and bombers to South Korea are not unusual, but Washington has boosted them over the last year in a show of force against North Korea鈥檚 evolving nuclear threats.
Pyongyang often responds furiously to such visits, calling them proof of hostile intentions, and reacts with missile tests.
On Sept. 13, North Korea鈥檚 state media published to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. It was North Korea鈥檚 first unveiling of a uranium-enrichment facility since it showed one at the country鈥檚 main Yongbyon nuclear complex to visiting American scholars in 2010. Last week, North Korea tested a newly built ballistic missile designed to carry what it calls 鈥渁 4.5-ton super-large conventional warhead鈥 and a modified cruise missile.
Since late May, North Korea has also floated thousands of toward South Korea in a Cold War-style psychological campaign, prompting South Korea to restart anti-Pyongyang at border areas.
South Korea鈥檚 military warned on Tuesday of unspecified military action if the North pushes its balloon campaign to a point that seriously threatens the safety of South Korean civilians.
Military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon didn鈥檛 say what action South Korea could take, but he reiterated that the military isn鈥檛 considering shooting down the balloons midair because they could be carrying hazardous substances.
So far, North Korea鈥檚 balloon activities haven't caused serious damage.
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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.
