North Korea slams U.S. remarks comparing South to 'dagger'

Key points

• North Korea slammed on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) remarks by the top American military official in South Korea comparing his host nation to "the dagger in the heart of Asia", saying it reflected Washington's strategy to contain China.
• General Xavier Brunson made the comments in an interview as speculation builds that Washington may seek to expand the US Forces Korea (USFK) role in countering China's regional influence.
• About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea to help guard against the nuclear-armed North.
• The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published commentary by analyst Kim Myong Chol who said Brunson's remarks showed the U.S. as "the chieftain of harassing peace and the world's worst war empire".
• The comments reflected how Washington intended to use South Korea "as an important geopolitical instrument to realise its regional strategy aimed at containing China," said Mr. Kim, who is based in Japan and considered...