PYONGYANG, September 25. /TASS/. South Korea will become a target for retaliatory measures if it serves as a key element in the US collective defense system, Kang Chol Su, department director at North Korea’s Institute of Enemy State Studies, said in an article published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"The Republic of Korea, which has emerged as a 'decisive center for collective defense' in line with US strategic interests, will be a decisive target for collective retaliation," the article reads.

The article’s author cited recent remarks by Xavier Brunson, commander of the US Forces Korea, who described the republic as a decisive center for collective defense and stressed the need for Seoul and Washington to jointly respond to threats beyond the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang interpreted such statements as proof that the military alliance between the US and South Korea is broadening its missions.

The article also notes the deployment of MQ-9 Reaper drones in South Korea, the additional deployment of F-16 fighter jets and the participation of the republic’s armed forces in multinational exercises, including RIMPAC and Pacific Vanguard. The author associates these moves with Seoul’s more active involvement in the US military strategy.

Kang Chol Su also cited South Korea’s increasing defense spending, plans to build a nuclear-powered submarine, participation in missile defense systems and purchases of US weapons. According to him, these measures heighten security risks for the Korean Peninsula and the region.

The article emphasizes that North Korea takes into account the changing situation and is ready to retaliate if its security is threatened.