State media reported on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned that he is prepared to use nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the US and South Korea. He also unleashed a barrage of venomous rhetoric against rivals he claims are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the verge of war.
On the 69th anniversary of the conclusion of the 1950–1953 Korean War, Kim addressed military veterans in an apparent effort to strengthen internal cohesion in the economically struggling nation. Even while Kim has been threatening his adversaries with nuclear weapons more often, many think it’s improbable that he would use them first against the stronger forces of the United States and its allies.
“Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilize its absolute power dutifully, exactly and swiftly in accordance with its mission,” Kim said in Wednesday’s speech, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
He claimed that the US was “demonizing” North Korea to further its hostile foreign policy. Kim claimed that routine military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which he claimed were directed at the North, highlight the U.S.’s “double standards” and “gangster-like” characteristics because they portray North Korea’s regular military activities—obviously a reference to its missile tests—as provocations or threats.
Additionally, Yoon Suk Yeol’s new South Korean administration, according to Kim, is run by “gangsters” and “confrontation maniacs” who have gone beyond past conservative South Korean regimes. The Yoon administration has worked to fortify Seoul’s military alliance with the United States since taking office in May. It has also improved its own capabilities to counter North Korean nuclear threats, including a preemptive strike capability.
“Talking about military action against our nation, which possesses absolute weapons that they fear the most, is preposterous and is very dangerous suicidal action,” Kim said. “Such a dangerous attempt will be immediately punished by our powerful strength and the Yoon Suk Yeol government and his military will be annihilated.”
South Korea voiced “deep sadness” over Kim’s warning and stated that it is ready to respond “powerfully, effectively” to any provocation by North Korea.
Yoon’s presidential national security office stated in a statement delivered by spokeswoman Kang In-sun that South Korea will protect its national security and the safety of its citizens based on a strong relationship with the United States. It pleaded with North Korea to resume negotiations so that disarmament measures might be taken.
The Defense Ministry of South Korea said earlier on Thursday that it has been increasing its military capabilities and joint defense posture with the United States to counter the growing nuclear threats from North Korea.
Kim declared in April that North Korea may deploy nuclear weapons as a first line of defense if necessary and that they would “never be constrained to the exclusive task of war deterrence.” Additionally, Kim’s military has conducted test launches of nuclear-armed missiles that are capable of hitting both South Korea and the U.S. mainland. Officials from the United States and South Korea have stated time and time again in recent months that North Korea is prepared to carry out its first nuclear test in five years.
As his nation’s economy has been severely harmed by pandemic-related border closures, American-led sanctions, and his own poor management, Kim is attempting to win over a larger portion of the populace. The first COVID-19 epidemic in North Korea was also acknowledged there in May, albeit the severity of the sickness and number of fatalities are debatable in a nation without access to modern medical resources.
“Kim’s rhetoric inflates external threats to justify his militarily focused and economically struggling regime,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. “North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are in violation of international law, but Kim tries to depict his destabilizing arms buildup as a righteous effort at self-defense.”
As the allies get ready to extend their summertime drills, experts predict that North Korea will escalate its threats against the U.S. and South Korea. Due to concerns about COVID-19 and to support the now-stalled U.S.-led diplomacy aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear program in exchange for economic and political benefits, the South Korean and American militaries have recently canceled or scaled back some of their routine exercises.
In his speech on Wednesday, Kim implied that he plans to carry out the anticipated nuclear test by saying that his leadership recently assigned responsibilities to increase its military capabilities more quickly to respond to military pressure campaigns by its foes.
The private Sejong Institute in South Korea’s Cheong Seong-Chang, however, asserted that North Korea will likely delay any nuclear test until after China, the country’s main ally and largest donor of aid, hosts its Communist Party conference in the autumn. According to him, China is concerned that a nuclear test by North Korea may give the US cause to strengthen security ties with its allies, which it might then use to restrain Chinese influence in the area.
Despite declining fever cases, North Korea recently claimed that it was making progress in combating the COVID-19 epidemic. However, experts say it’s not certain if the government will be able to loosen its rigorous quarantines anytime soon because it may have a viral rebound later this year.
Photos from state media at the event on Wednesday showed that Kim, veterans, and others did not wear masks. In comparison to the high of almost 400,000 instances per day in May, North Korea reported only 11 cases of fever on Thursday.
U.S. and South Korean proposals for medical supplies have been rebuffed by North Korea. As a possible allusion to U.S.-led sanctions and military exercises between the United States and South Korea, it has also stated that it will not resume negotiations with the United States unless the latter ends its hostile policies toward the North.