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North Korea has strongly condemned remarks made by the top American military official in South Korea, General Xavier Brunson, who described the peninsula as "the dagger in the heart of Asia." Pyongyang asserted that these comments reveal Washington's strategy to contain China and use South Korea as a geopolitical tool.

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When (the Chinese) look out from the east coast of China, what they see is there’s Korea, the dagger in the heart of Asia.

General Brunson's comments, made in an interview, come amid speculation about an expanded role for US Forces Korea in countering China's regional influence. North Korea, through state-run KCNA, labeled Brunson's remarks as indicative of the US being "the chieftain of harassing peace and the world’s worst war empire." Analyst Kim Myong Chol, considered an unofficial North Korean spokesman, stated that the remarks show Washington's intention to use South Korea to realize its regional strategy against China.

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Brunson’s remarks showed the US as “the chieftain of harassing peace and the world’s worst war empire”.

China, North Korea's primary trading partner and diplomatic ally, has also expressed strong disapproval of Brunson's remarks. Beijing's embassy in Seoul called the comments "truly crossed the line" and "rife with hostility and aggression toward China." The USFK commander's comparison of Japan to a "shield" against China's ambitions was also noted.

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The comments reflected how Washington intended to use South Korea “as an important geopolitical instrument to realise its regional strategy aimed at containing China,”

South Korea's presidential office acknowledged Brunson's remarks and stated that communication is ongoing at various levels. Local media reports indicate that Seoul has raised concerns with the United States about the comments. Approximately 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea as part of the defense posture against North Korea.

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Beijing’s embassy in Seoul last week condemned the remarks as having “truly crossed the line” and “rife with hostility and aggression toward China”, asking whether they were authorised by Washington.