If required, North Korea will 'preemptively' use nuclear weapons, says Kim
Key Takeaways:
- If threatened, Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his vow to use nuclear weapons first. This week, he complimented his top military officers for putting on a huge spectacle in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.
- So far in 2022, North Korea has launched 13 missiles, including its first full-range intercontinental ballistic missile test since 2017.
North Korean chief Kim Jong Un reiterated his warning to deploy nuclear weapons first if threatened He praised his top military officers for organizing a large display in the capital, Pyongyang, this week.
Kim started his "firm determination" to continue developing his nuclear-armed military to "preemptively as well as thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, such as ever nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
According to KCNA, Kim called his military officials to thank them for their efforts at Monday's parade, which featured the North's most powerful nuclear weapons, including intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States homeland, as well as a variety of shorter-range solid-fuel missiles that pose a growing threat to South Korea and Japan. The meeting was held on an undisclosed day, according to KCNA.
The parade commemorating North Korea's army's 90th anniversary took place as Kim rekindled nuclear brinkmanship to persuade the US to acknowledge his country as nuclear power and lift severe economic sanctions.
Kim promised to enhance his nuclear forces at the "quickest feasible speed" and warned to use them if provoked, speaking before thousands of troops and spectators assembled for the event. In cases where the North encounters foreign challenges to its unnamed "fundamental interests," Kim stated his nukes would "never be constrained to the exclusive task of war deterrence."
North Korea has launched 13 missiles so far in 2022, including its first full-range ICBM test since 2017. Kim takes advantage of a favorable environment to advance his weapons development while the United Nations Security Council remains divided and virtually paralyzed over Russia's war in Ukraine.
Disagreements about a potential lifting of US-led sanctions in exchange for North Korean disarmament efforts have halted nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang since 2019.
In the face of international criticism, Kim has remained committed to his aims of concurrently building nuclear weapons and improving the country's poor economy and has shown no readiness to surrender a nuclear arsenal that he sees as his best chance of survival.