North Korea Shares Its View on the U.S. Golden Dome: Space Nuclear Warfare Is Closer Than Ever

The anti-missile shield that President Donald Trump wants to deploy in Earth’s orbit, known as “Golden Dome,” has sparked a strong reaction from North Korea.

North Korean response. North Korea’s Foreign Ministry has described the Golden Dome project as “the height of self-righteousness [and] arrogance,” according to North Korean state media.

Pyongyang accuses Washington of “hell-bent[ing] on the moves to militarize outer space” and warns that this initiative could trigger “a global nuclear and space arms race.” This means the missile shield plan could potentially turn Earth’s orbit into “a potential nuclear war field.”

What is the Golden Dome? Despite its name being inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome, the U.S. missile shield would use multiple layers for detection and interception by land, sea, and space. This includes a network of sensors and interceptors deployed in orbit, similar to a constellation of satellites.

This project is so ambitious that Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth consider it a “generational investment.” The White House has budgeted $175 billion over three years to make it operational before 2029. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that space-based interceptors alone could cost as much as $542 billion, with a deployment timeline spanning two decades.

More from Xataka On

China Believes This Is America’s Biggest Nuclear Threat. It’s Not a Stealth Fighter or Bomber: It’s a Cold War Relic

An ambitious promise. The new defense system would consist of a shield capable of intercepting advanced hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missiles. This includes those launched from halfway around the world or from space, during all phases of an attack. The technology would combine existing systems with new developments.

According to Reuters, a consortium led by SpaceX, software company Palantir Technologies, and defense tech company Anduril Industries is at the forefront of deploying detection satellites based on the Starlink constellation. The hypothetical armed satellites designed to intercept missiles from space represent the most technologically challenging and enigmatic aspect of the project. This is particularly challenging because these satellites must withstand potential attacks from anti-satellite weapons, which several nations possess.

Weaponizing space. North Korea’s criticism of the proposed Golden Dome missile defense resonates with China’s stance. China said it was “seriously concerned” regarding the “strong offensive implications” of the American missile shield.

Beijing accuses Washington of pursuing “absolute security for itself” under a “U.S.-first policy,” which it argues “undermines global strategic balance and stability." However, countries such as China and Russia are also advancing their own military capabilities in space. Both nations are carrying out activities such as satellites tracking other satellites, secret deployments, and reconnaissance space planes.

Image | Prachatai

Related | Russia, China, and North Korea Own Hypersonic Weapons. To Defend Itself, the U.S. Wants to Build Its Own ‘Iron Dome’