Ready to use N-weapons against US, S Korea: Kim
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said on Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.
Kim’s speech to war veterans on the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War was apparently meant to boost internal unity in the impoverished country amid pandemicrelated economic difficulties.
While Kim has increasingly threatened his rivals with nuclear weapons, it’s unlikely that he would use them first against the superior militaries of the US and its allies, observers say.
“Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilise 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 accused the US of “demonising” North Korea to justify its hostile policies. He said US-South Korea military drills targeting North Korea show the US’s “double standards” and “gangster-like” aspects because it brands North Korea’s routine military activities - an apparent reference to its missile tests - as provocations or threats.
Kim also alleged the new South Korean government of President Yoon Suk-yeol is led by “confrontation maniacs” and “gangsters” who have gone further than previous South Korean conservative governments.
Since taking office in May, the Yoon government has moved to strengthen Seoul’s military alliance with the US and bolster its capacity to neutralise 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.”
“Such a dangerous attempt will be immediately punished by our powerful strength and the Yoon Suk-Yeol government and his military will be annihilated.”
Moon Hong-sik, a deputy spokesperson at the South Korean defence ministry, reiterated on Thursday an earlier position that South Korea has been boosting its military capacity and joint defence posture with the US to cope with escalating North Korean nuclear threats.
South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the military maintains a firm readiness.In April, Kim said North Korea could preemptively use nuclear weapons if threatened, saying they would “never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent.”
Kim’s military has also testlaunched nuclear-capable missiles that place both the US mainland and South Korea within striking distance. US and South Korean officials have repeatedly said in the past few months that North Korea is ready to conduct its first nuclear test in five years.