The ruling authorities in North Korea have issued a stark warning of “more offensive action” in response to intensified military cooperation between South Korea and the United States, signalling a further deterioration in regional security dynamics, Channel News Asia has reported.

On Saturday, the North’s defence minister, No Kwang‑Chol, condemned recent joint defence talks held in Seoul and the arrival of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington to South Korean waters, declaring that Pyongyang would take the initiative. “We will show more offensive action against the enemies’ threat on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace by dint of powerful strength,” he said, according to state media cited by CNA.

No further comment defined what constitutes “offensive action,” but the statement followed a missile launch by North Korea on November 7, aimed into the sea off its east coast, and came as Washington imposed fresh sanctions targeting North Korean individuals and entities alleged to be involved in cyber-money-laundering.

According to CNA, Seoul’s defence ministry expressed regret at the North’s criticism of the bilateral US–South Korea meeting, in which defence chiefs visited the border area between the two Koreas and discussed nuclear and conventional deterrence integration.

Further intensifying matters, No Kwang-Chol accused the US carrier visit of escalating tensions, characterising it as part of a broader plot by Seoul and Washington to prepare for “hostile operations” against the DPRK. “This is a stark revelation and an unveiled intentional expression of their hostile nature to stand against the DPRK to the end,” he is reported as saying.

For its part, South Korea’s navy maintained that the USS George Washington’s visit to Busan was routine — described merely as re-supplying and providing leave for the crew.