Kim Jong Un's Mouthpiece Slams Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin's Impending Visit To Seoul: 'War Zealots Embarked On Field Inspection For Second Korean War'

Kim Jong Un‘s mouthpiece lashed out against the scheduled visits to South Korea by high-ranking U.S. officials, calling it a “field inspection” by “war zealots.”

What Happened: North Korea on Wednesday criticized the impending arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the subsequent visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Seoul, Yonhap reported.

Blinken is expected in Seoul later today to discuss North Korean issues, the US-South Korea alliance, and other regional concerns.

In a statement disseminated by the official Korean Central News Agency, North Korean commentator Kim Myong-chol said, “the provocative behavior of the United States brings up the impression of war zealots who have embarked on a field inspection for a second Korean War.”

He suggested that the visits of Blinken and Austin could usher in “new war clouds” over the Asia-Pacific region.

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Why It Matters: This criticism comes amid increasing apprehension over North Korea’s strengthening military relations with Russia. Defense Secretary Austin is scheduled to travel to Seoul next week to participate in the annual bilateral defense ministerial discussions and join the inaugural defense ministerial gathering, which includes member states of the United Nations Command.

Meanwhile, Nuclear expert Siegfried Hecker revealed that North Korea is reorienting its diplomatic posture due to mounting international sanctions. He said Pyongyang has reportedly ceased its pursuit of establishing formal diplomatic ties with the U.S., shifting focus toward allies China and Russia. Hecker, the former Los Alamos National Laboratory director and Stanford University professor emeritus, has visited North Korean nuclear sites multiple times between 2004 and 2010.

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