North Korea Threatens South Korea Over US Defense Hub Role

• •North Korea threatens South Korea if it serves as a US defense hub.
• •South Korea's defense minister calls for North Korea to stop border fortifications.
• •Tensions persist along the inter-Korean border amid military preparations.

North Korea declared South Korea a 'decisive target' for retaliation if it becomes a central hub for a US-led collective defense system. The statement, issued by Kang Chol Su of the Institute for Enemy State Studies, accused the US of using South Korea as a base for global hegemony and criticized joint military drills. North Korea claims to have prepared countermeasures against perceived threats to its security. Meanwhile, South Korea's new defense minister, Kang Shin-chul, urged North Korea to halt fortifications along the Military Demarcation Line, emphasizing that Seoul will not be influenced by Pyongyang's actions. The situation remains tense as both nations bolster their military readiness.