DST News: North Korea has sharply criticized the United States over its military support and arms sales to Taiwan, warning Washington to consider carefully the consequences of a possible confrontation with China.

A commentary published by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), citing international affairs analyst Kim Myong Chol, accused Washington of increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and undermining regional peace and stability.

The commentary particularly criticized the recent arrival in Taiwan of US-supplied fighter aircraft. It warned that the United States “should think twice” about whether it is prepared for a direct confrontation with China over Taiwan and whether it could deal with the consequences of such a conflict.

The warning comes after the first two of 66 F-16V Block 70 fighter jets ordered by Taiwan from the United States in 2019 arrived on the island last week. Taiwan has been strengthening its military capabilities amid growing pressure from Beijing.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has repeatedly opposed US arms sales to the democratically governed island.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his country’s support for Russia in a birthday message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kim said North Korea would continue expanding cooperation with Moscow under their comprehensive strategic partnership. Without directly referring to the war in Ukraine, he said Russia’s “sacred war of justice” to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity would ultimately end in victory, according to KCNA.

North Korea is believed to have deployed an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine since 2024, according to estimates from Ukrainian and South Korean officials.