North Korea Warns of Escalation Amidst US-South Korea Defense Agreement

North Korea has threatened to enhance its nuclear capabilities and impose severe consequences on the US and South Korea in response to their newly signed joint nuclear deterrence guidelines. The guidelines aim to integrate US nuclear weapons with South Korean conventional forces to counter North Korean threats.

North Korea issued a stark warning on Saturday, threatening to bolster its nuclear capabilities and make the US and South Korea pay "an unimaginably harsh price" for adopting new defense guidelines. The regime claims these guidelines signal an intention to invade the North.

The warnings come after US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol signed joint nuclear deterrence guidelines aimed at countering North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal. These guidelines were established as part of a year-old consultation body to enhance information-sharing on nuclear operations and discuss how to integrate US nuclear weapons with South Korea's conventional forces.

In its statement, North Korea's Defense Ministry accused the US and South Korea of preparing for a nuclear war against the North, necessitating an urgent improvement in North Korea's nuclear readiness. The regime vowed that the US and South Korea would pay a severe price for ongoing provocative actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)