PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea has issued a stern rebuke of the United States’ proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, warning that the plan could militarise outer space and trigger a global arms race.
The remarks, reported through Pyongyang’s state media, come amid growing concerns from rival powers over Washington’s next-generation missile shield.
The system, described by the U.S. as a futuristic upgrade to existing defence capabilities, is being developed to counter emerging threats such as hypersonic and cruise missiles.
President Donald Trump first outlined the plan during his previous term, with the goal of positioning the U.S. to deter and neutralise “next-generation” aerial threats.
North Korea’s foreign ministry on Monday described the Golden Dome initiative as “the height of self-righteousness [and] arrogance,” adding that it represented Washington’s obsession “to militarise outer space.”
“It could turn outer space into a potential nuclear war field,” the statement read, warning that the system may escalate tensions and prompt a “global nuclear and space arms race.”
Pyongyang has long perceived joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises and missile defence developments as existential threats, particularly to its nuclear deterrent.
Experts believe North Korea views the Golden Dome as a strategic challenge.
“If the U.S. completes its new missile defence programme, the North will be forced to develop alternative means to counter or penetrate it,” said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, speaking to AFP.
North Korea, which declared itself a nuclear weapons state in 2022, has conducted a series of weapons tests in recent years, including the reported launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile fitted with a hypersonic warhead earlier this year.
The state claims the weapon is capable of “reliably contain[ing] any rivals in the Pacific region.”
China has also voiced opposition to the Golden Dome, stating last week that it is “seriously concerned” about the project’s strategic consequences.
Beijing warned that the plan carries “strong offensive implications” and undermines international security.
“The United States, in pursuing a ‘US-first’ policy, is obsessed with seeking absolute security for itself,” China’s foreign ministry said.
“This violates the principle that the security of all countries should not be compromised and undermines global strategic balance and stability.”
While some analysts agree that U.S. missile defences require modernisation, others caution that the Golden Dome could face significant technical and political hurdles.
Its cost is one key issue: although an initial $25 billion (£18.7 billion) has been allocated in a recent budget bill, long-term projections estimate the total cost could exceed $500 billion over several decades.
