Pyongyang threatens to shoot down US spy planes

North Korea has threatened to shoot down US reconnaissance planes if they violate its airspace and enter its territory.Pyongyang issued the stark warning on Monday morning through an unnamed spokesman for the country's National Defense Ministry, quoted by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).The warning came after North Korean officials claimed that US reconnaissance planes had recently violated the country's airspace near the east coast.

"Particularly in the East Sea, US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft repeatedly violated the airspace of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over tens of kilometers," said the anonymous spokesperson, using North Korea's official name.“There is no guarantee that a shocking incident where a US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft is shot down over the East Sea will not happen,” the spokesperson added.

The statement also cites previous instances in which North Korea shot down or intercepted US aircraft on its border with South Korea and off its coast.North Korea has frequently criticized the United States for flying its surveillance planes near the peninsula.The North's official news agency also denounced the United States for its recent decision to send a nuclear-powered submarine to waters near the Korean peninsula.

The submarine arrived in the South Korean port city of Busan last month, marking the first time in nearly six years that an "SSGN"-classed submarine, or cruise missile submarine, has stopped at a port in South Korea.In a June 16 statement, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that in calling the submarine to port, Seoul and Washington intended to "test their special warfare capabilities and interoperability" to respond to what they called "increasing threats" from North Korea through joint warfare exercises.

Also last month, a US B-52 strategic bomber took part in aerial exercises with South Korea.the KCNA said the US introduction of its strategic nuclear assets on the Korean Peninsula is "the least covert nuclear blackmail" against North Korea and other countries in the region, adding that the move creates a situation that brings a nuclear conflict closer to reality and poses a serious threat to peace.

Pyongyang has also held Washington responsible for any consequences that may arise from such measures."Whether the extreme situation, desired by anyone, is created on the Korean Peninsula or not depends on the future action of the United States, and if a sudden situation occurs... the United States will bear full responsibility," he said.Pyongyang added that the decision to operate nuclear submarines near the Korean peninsula has created a "very dangerous situation that prevents us from realistically accepting the worst-case scenario of a nuclear confrontation."