North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to increase his nuclear arsenal in the new year to stifle hostile actions by the US and South Korea, in a privacy-setting address where he has left little room for a return to long-standing disarmament talks.
In a speech delivered at the end of a nearly week-long meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, Kim said Washington and Seoul were targeting his government, which increased the need to produce more nuclear weapons, the Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday. .
“Now that the puppet forces of South Korea, which designates the DPRK as the ‘main army’ and openly trumpets about ‘war preparations’ have considered our unquestionable enemy, this highlights the importance and necessity of the production of tactical nuclear weapons and calls for an exponential increase of the arsenal. nuclear state,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying in the report. The country’s official name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and it uses lowercase letters in the media to refer to its neighbors.
Kim’s report to wrap up the plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee appears to replace the traditional New Year’s speech. He also promised that his country would launch its first military satellite and develop a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be used to deliver warheads to the US mainland.
“The existing situation calls for a redoubled effort to fully expand the military muscle to ensure the sovereignty, security and fundamental interests of the Republic in response to the alarming military moves by the US and other hostile forces that are precisely targeting the DPRK,” KCNA said. quoted Kim as saying in the report.
With the threat of new sanctions and plans already in place to develop weapons including drones, submarines and missiles, Kim has sought to continue honing his ability to deliver a credible nuclear strike against the US and its allies, such as South Korea and Japan.
North Korea’s leader has escalated tensions to levels not seen in years by firing more than 70 ballistic missiles by 2022, lowering his fence on using nuclear weapons and saying he does not need to return to the bargaining table to talk about winding down. . returning his nuclear arsenal as a return for relief from the sanctions choking the country’s paltry economy.
His country fired three short-range ballistic missiles on the last day of the year and then fired another one hours after the new year began in a show of force that could set the tone for heightened tensions.
Kim in 2022 faces one of the toughest years in a decade in power on the domestic front, acknowledging the Covid outbreak in a country that has refused international vaccine aid. The severe weather has led to chronic food shortages and his decision to close his borders at the start of the pandemic has resulted in a break in what little legal trade the country has – leading to the biggest economic downturn in decades.
Kim also appears poised to conduct his first nuclear test since 2017 as he seeks to miniaturize warheads for tactical weapons to strike South Korea and Japan, which host the bulk of US forces in Asia. Atomic detonation could also increase the power of warheads that could be mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the American mainland.
The US, South Korea and Japan have pledged firm and coordinated sanctions if Kim tests a nuclear weapon. But sanctions and years of isolation have failed to make Kim change course. There is now little chance that Russia or China, who have veto power in the United Nations Security Council, will support new measures against North Korea as they did in 2017 during a test that caused global concern.
Kim has ignored US efforts to return to nuclear disarmament talks and brought his daughter to a state media debut to attend the launch of an ICBM in November – signaling that another generation is poised to take over the family’s enduring Cold War dynasty and will rely on nuclear weapons to survival.
Kim has also shown signs of loosening border restrictions to allow more trade with long-time partners China and Russia, which could weaken the global sanctions regime. The US has accused North Korea of selling weapons to Russia in defiance of UN sanctions to help Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. Pyongyang dismissed the accusations as baseless rumours, but also established a single rail link with Russia that was halted almost three years ago due to Covid-19.
North Korea may show its strength in the coming weeks. Specialist service NK News said satellite imagery in December showed thousands of North Korean soldiers had begun training for a military parade.
In a speech a year ago, Kim urged North Korea to focus on reducing food shortages and containing Covid, with a New Year’s policy assessment suggesting nuclear talks with the US were a low priority.
Our new weekly Impact Report newsletter examines how ESG news and trends are shaping the roles and responsibilities of today’s executives. Subscribe here.