‘Hell-bent on militarising outer space’: North Korea slams Trump’s Golden Dome plan

North Korea slammed US president Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile shield project on Tuesday, calling it a “very dangerous” move that threatens global security and accelerates the weaponisation of space. In a memorandum released by its foreign ministry, North Korea said the initiative was a direct challenge to the strategic balance maintained by nuclear powers, reported state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It warned that the US was “hell-bent on militarising outer space” and accused Washington of sparking a nuclear and space arms race. The criticism follows Trump’s announcement last week, where he revealed initial funding and further details about the Golden Dome system.

He described it as vital to the “success and even survival” of the United States. However, experts have flagged serious technical and political hurdles. They also noted that the system’s development and deployment would likely come at a very high cost.

The plan is modelled after Israel’s Iron Dome, a system credited with intercepting thousands of short-range projectiles since 2011. But the US faces a wider range of missile threats that differ significantly in type and range, casting doubt on the effectiveness of a similar system on American soil.

China and Russia have echoed North Korea’s concerns. Beijing warned that the plan could disrupt global stability, while Moscow initially condemned it as destabilising. Later, the Kremlin said the decision was a US “sovereign matter,” though it noted the need for consultations.The US has increased military cooperation with South Korea, deploying strategic assets like aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. North Korea, meanwhile, continues to assert its status as a nuclear-armed state and regularly criticises joint US-South Korea military drills as provocative.