North Korea calls Biden’s comments on Taiwan ‘reckless’

North Korea slammed President Biden’s recent comments on defending Taiwan if China attacked, calling them “reckless,” according to state news outlet Korean Central News Agency.

North Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Myong Ho said in a statement to the news agency that the U.S.’s “indiscreet meddling” into Taiwan “entails a potential danger of touching off a delicate situation on the Korean peninsula.”

“The U.S. should bear in mind that its reckless interference in internal affairs, its attempt for division and an open act of double standard would only invite tragic consequences of lifting an ax to drop it on its own foot,” Pak said.

During a CNN town hall on Thursday, Biden answered in the affirmative when asked if the U.S. would defend Taiwan if Beijing attacked. 

“Yes, we have a commitment to do that,” Biden said Thursday.

The White House later clarified Biden’s remarks, saying that Biden was not announcing a change of U.S. policy towards Taiwan.  

Still, the answer appeared to contradict decades of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, in which America adheres to “strategic ambiguity” in dealing with the nation. China and Taiwan split in 1949, but the U.S. formally recognizes China as the government of Taiwan.

The U.S. still maintains informal ties with Taiwan, providing military sales to the island nation to ensure it can defend itself; however, the U.S. is ambiguous on the responsibility to physically help Taiwan.

But concerns of an invasion has grown as China becomes more provocative. Between the end of September and beginning October, China flew at least 150 warplanes into airspace close to Taiwan.  

North Korea, meanwhile, has been critical of the U.S.’s security role in the Indo-Pacific region. Last month, the nation threatened countermeasures following the U.S.’s deal with the U.K and Australia to provide the latter with nuclear-powered submarines, The Associated Press noted.

In his statement, Pak criticized the U.S. for dispatching battleships into the Taiwan Straits and announcing an arms sale worth $750 million.

“The U.S. acts constitute a naked interference in the internal affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and cause a grave threat to the international peace and stability,” Pak said. “We fully support the Chinese government and people in their stand to defend the national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to realize the unification of the motherland without fail.”