North Korea lambasted South Korea Sunday for seeking to purchase PAC-3 interceptor missiles from the United States, warning Pyongyang will counter Seoul's move with strengthened nuclear deterrence.

South Korea is seeking to buy PAC-3 interceptors to upgrade its present PAC-2 air defense system by 2020 to better defend against threats from North Korea. PAC-3 missiles are also a key part of Seoul's plan to build the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system. 

Early this month, the U.S. government approved the PAC-3 missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$1.41 billion. PAC-3 missiles can intercept missiles at an altitude of under 40 kilometers. 

"The U.S. sale is a prelude to Washington's move to put South Korea under its missile defense system," said the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea. "The weapons sale will push North Korea to the path of further strengthening nuclear deterrence."

The newspaper claimed the expansion of the U.S. missile defense system will spark an arms race in Northeast Asia.

It also said the U.S. had agreed with South Korea to delay Seoul's takeover of wartime control of its troops from Washington in a bid to seek profits from selling weapons under the pretext of threats from North Korea.

Late last month, Seoul and Washington agreed to the postponement, citing evolving nuclear and missile threats from the communist country. The allies expect the handover to take place in the mid-2020s when Seoul is expected to be armed with the necessary deterrents. (Yonhap)