North Korea Labels US ‘Golden Dome’ Missile Defense System a Provocative Threat

North Korea has criticized the Golden Dome missile defense system currently being developed by the United States, deeming it a threat to the security of countries opposing Washington.

According to North Korean experts, the Golden Dome system, which is being developed by Lockheed Martin, is not merely a defensive measure as claimed by the United States, but rather an offensive tool that reflects Washington’s ambitions to militarize space. In light of this perceived threat, Pyongyang has asserted the necessity for a “symmetrical buildup of superior forces” to counter U.S. military advancements.

Described on Lockheed Martin’s website, the Golden Dome system employs advanced technology capable of detecting missiles, calculating their trajectories, and intercepting them during flight, utilizing space-based interceptors and hypersonic technology. As reported by Defense News, the project aims to safeguard the U.S. homeland from potential attacks by “rogue states” such as North Korea and Iran, while also serving as a deterrent against Russia and China. However, North Korea contends that the system’s true objective is to enhance U.S. military dominance. The DPRK has long accused Washington of militarizing space, citing projects like the X-37B unmanned spacecraft, which was assigned to the Pentagon in 2004 for military purposes.

This statement from Pyongyang comes amid deteriorating relations with the United States. The Trump administration, which took office in January 2025, is contemplating new sanctions against North Korea in response to its missile tests. In April 2025, North Korea launched a medium-range ballistic missile, prompting protests from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. In retaliation, Washington increased its military presence in the region, deploying the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to the Sea of Japan and enhancing THAAD systems in South Korea.

In 2019, Pyongyang warned that “the use of force is not a monopoly of the United States,” in response to U.S. nuclear tests and military exercises. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), North Korea has intensified its military programs in 2025, including the development of hypersonic missiles and upgrades to its nuclear arsenal, as part of the “symmetrical buildup” strategy referenced in their recent statement.