North Korea Accuses Obama of Infringing on its Sovereignty

North Korea has accused President Barack Obama and his administration of inserting themselves into the affairs of their country and promised to use "every necessary measure" to defend itself from the so-called U.S. threats. Statements from the North Korean military were generally harsher than those originating from the country’s Foreign Ministry, perhaps due to the fact that planned U.S. – South Korea military operations in the latter country appear to be the source of North Korea’s discomfiture. Since word of those military operations spread, North Korea has been threatening South Korean passenger plans and has its troops in a state of high alert.

Said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, "The Foreign Ministry is Washington’s direct negotiating partner and has not engaged in criticizing the U.S. so far. This means they have started expressing pent-up complaints." Yong-hyun did note, however, that the more reserved criticism coming from the Foreign Ministry indicated a willingness to negotiate. Said North Korea in a statement, "The new administration of the U.S. is now working hard to infringe upon the [North Korea] sovereignty by force of arms." The statement also went on to note that Obama and his administration are "letting loose a whole string of words and deeds little short of getting on the nerves of [North Korea] and seriously interfering in its internal affairs."

There were no real specifics put forth by the statement, though it is likely that North Korea is not assuaged by U.S. assurances that joint war exercises with South Korea are defensive in nature, instead claiming that such exercise have been designed to launch a pre-emptive attack.