Kim Jong-un vows to ‘exponentially’ increase North Korea’s nuclear warhead production

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to increase production of nuclear warheads “exponentially” and build more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported Sunday, signaling deepening hostility with the US, South Korea and others.

Kim’s statement at a meeting of the main ruling party was released hours after North Korea fired a ballistic missile into eastern waters, entering 2023 with another weapons test after a record missile launch last year.

“The current situation requires our country to redouble its efforts to strengthen its military power in order to safeguard sovereignty, security and basic national interests in order to counter dangerous military movements by the US and other hostile forces that target us,” Kim said. , according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA quoted Kim as saying North Korea was forced to boost production “exponentially” to produce mass tactical nuclear weapons.

They also said Kim had ordered the development of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile with rapid retaliatory strike capabilities. Kim also reportedly said North Korea plans to launch its first military spy satellite.

The South Korean military detected the launch on Sunday from the North’s capital area around 2:50 a.m., the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. It said the missile traveled about 400 kilometers before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a “serious provocation” that undermines peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and around the world. He said South Korea closely monitors North Korea’s movements in coordination with the United States and maintains readiness to deal with any provocations.

The US Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the launch highlighted the “destabilizing impact” of North Korea’s illicit weapons program. He said the US commitment to defend South Korea and Japan “remains ironclad.”

North Korea tested more than 70 missiles last year. Some experts say the country ultimately aims to boost its weapons arsenal and increase pressure on its rivals for concessions such as sanctions relief.

On Saturday, North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles into eastern waters.

North Korean state media confirmed Sunday that the country conducted a test launch of a super-large multiple rocket to test the weapon’s capabilities. The official Korean Central News Agency said three shells fired from a launcher on Saturday accurately hit an island target off the country’s east coast. North Korea said it fired another shell from a launcher into eastern waters on Sunday.

Outside experts classify weapons fired from launchers as ballistic missiles due to their trajectory, range and other characteristics.

WATCH | North Korean missile test ‘serious threat’ to Japan, ambassador says:

North Korea’s missile test is a ‘clear, grave and serious threat’ to Japan’s national security, the Ambassador said

Japan’s ambassador to Canada, Kanji Yamanouchi, said North Korea’s ballistic missile test in his country was a “clear, grave and serious threat” to national security.

The North’s missile launch for the second straight day could be a response to rival South Korean rocket tests linked to plans to establish space-based surveillance to monitor North Korea. On Friday, South Korea’s military said it test-launched a solid-fuel rocket, the type of space launch vehicle it plans to use to put its first spy satellite into orbit in the coming years.

Hostilities between the rival Koreas have deepened since early last week, when South Korea accused North Korea of ​​flying a drone across the heavily-held border for the first time in five years and sending its own drone to the North.

South Korea admitted it failed to shoot down one of five North Korean drones found south of the border. But South Korea has vowed to bolster its air defense network and get tough on future provocations by North Korea.