North Korea: Physical conflict on Korean Peninsula is a matter of 'when,' not 'if'

North Korea has strongly condemned the reinforcement of the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) command and its enhanced rapid response capabilities, asserting that it demonstrates the command's transformation into a full-fledged "war command center." A commentary released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 31st alleged that the move reflects a sinister intention to use Japan's Self-Defense Forces as a vanguard for an all-out war in the Asia-Pacific region.

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This demonstrates that the USFJ command is transforming into a full-fledged 'war command center.'

This criticism follows U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt. Gen. Steven Jost's interview with Japan's Asahi Shimbun, where he revealed plans to increase USFJ command personnel by approximately 215 individuals compared to last year and establish a 24-hour response system. KCNA countered that given the USFJ's role as a key reinforcement force to be deployed to South Korea in case of emergency on the Korean Peninsula, it is undeniable that North Korea is its primary target.

North Korea interpreted General Jost's remark about preparing for "when" a crisis might occur, rather than "if," as an admission that physical conflict on the Korean Peninsula is now a matter of time. The commentary stated, "As the enemy admits, physical conflict in the Korean Peninsula region today is clearly defined not by whether it will occur, but by 'when' it will occur."

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Given that the USFJ is the key reinforcement force deployed first to South Korea in case of emergency on the Korean Peninsula, it is undeniable that North Korea is its primary target.

Pyongyang's assertions are seen as a warning of armed conflict on the peninsula and a strategy to pressure the U.S. by justifying its own military provocations and buildup. KCNA also harshly criticized the South Korean military, referring to them as "South Korean puppet military gangsters," in relation to the Key Resolve (CJST) exercise conducted by the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command from July 13th to 16th. Furthermore, North Korea took issue with the recent agreement among the chiefs of staff of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to continuously conduct trilateral military exercises like 'Freedom Edge,' which strengthens trilateral security cooperation.

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As the enemy admits, physical conflict in the Korean Peninsula region today is clearly defined not by whether it will occur, but by 'when' it will occur.

KCNA concluded by stating that the U.S.'s desperate military adventurism compels North Korea to further advance its self-defensive nuclear war deterrence capability without hesitation. It warned that the USFJ command's transformation into a "war command center" is a direct path to becoming a "defeat command center," recalling the historical defeat of the U.S. Eighth Army, which oversaw the Korean War from Japan.

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The U.S.'s desperate military adventurism compels us to further advance our self-defensive nuclear war deterrence capability without hesitation.