North Korea Calls Trump’s “Golden Dome” a Nuclear War Threat

North Korea on Tuesday strongly criticized the United States’ planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system, calling it a “very dangerous threatening initiative” that could lead to a nuclear war in space, according to state-run media reported by Reuters and Digi24.

The comments came a week after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the launch of the $175 billion defense program, which aims to protect the U.S. and its allies using a network of satellites equipped with missile interceptors.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, speaking through its Institute for American Studies, said the plan was “a scenario of nuclear war in outer space” and described it as arrogant and reckless, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The Golden Dome system would use hundreds of satellites in orbit to detect and destroy missiles launched from countries like North Korea, China, Iran, or Russia.

U.S. officials say the system will provide better, faster protection than current missile defense systems based on land or sea.

But experts and foreign governments are warning that the project could push the world into a new arms race in space. China has already voiced strong concerns, urging the U.S. to cancel the program.

“This project could increase the militarization of space, which is already growing,” analysts told Reuters.

A Costly and Ambitious Plan

Trump first introduced the Golden Dome idea in January as a major shift in U.S. defense strategy. It involves building offensive space-based weapons systems openly, rather than keeping such projects secret as past administrations often did.

The program will be run by a new Space Defense Agency, and major U.S. defense contractors are expected to be involved in building and launching the technology.

The U.S. Space Force had already warned about growing threats from Russia and China in space.

But the Golden Dome takes things further, with a new plan that could give the U.S. powerful space-based defense — at a very high cost.

North Korea and China Push Back

North Korea, which has long opposed U.S. missile defense systems, sees the Golden Dome as a direct threat. It says the project could upset the balance of power and make conflict more likely.

China also fears that the U.S. could use the system to gain an upper hand and weaken other countries’ ability to defend themselves. While the U.S. says the project is only for defense, critics say it could encourage a new space arms race.

Russia has not yet responded publicly to the Golden Dome announcement.