N. Korea leader hails 'powerful dterrent'
KimJongUn vows to build up country’s nuclear arsenal.
— SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has vowed to build up his country’ s nuclear arsenal as a “powerful deterrent” to the United States, statemedia reported, hours after President Donald Trump said that “only one thing will work” indealing with the isolated country.
Kim made his comments on Saturday at a meeting of the Central Committee of his ruling Workers’ Party, the offifficial Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday. He also reconfifirmed his policy of simultaneously seeking progress in his nuclear weapons program and pushing for economic growth in the face of expanding international sanctions.
The remarks indicated that Kimhad no intention of re treating under U.S. pressure even as South Korean off iffic ia ls and analysts worry that the North will conduct a major weapons test to observe the anniversary on Tuesday of the founding of the Workers’ Party.
North Korea’s nuclear weapons are a “powerful deter rent fifi rm ly safeguarding the peace andsecurity in the KoreanPeninsula andNortheast Asia,” Kim was quoted as saying, citing “protracted nuclear threats of the U.S. imperialists.”
Trump said on Twitter on Saturdaythat 25years of talks and deals with North Korea had come to nothing, making“fools of U.S. negotiators .” He added, “Sorry, but only one thing will work!”
When asked by reporters to elaborate later Saturday, he said: “You’ll figure that out pretty soon.”
In response to North Korea’ s tests of nuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Trump administration has pushed for punitiveeconomic measures while indicating thatmilitary solutions were also on the table.
NorthKorea has launched a series of powerful missiles since July, including two intercontinental ballistic missiles and intermediate-rangemissiles that flew over Japan. The North also conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test lastmonth, deepening fears that the country was approaching its stated goal of capability to deliver nuclearpayloads to themainland United States.
Indeed, a Russian law maker who had just returned from Pyongyang told reporter son Friday that North Korea was preparing for another long-range missile test.
Thewar ofwords between Kim and Trump about the North’s advancing nuclear program has also added to tensions and uncertainty in the region.
The U.S. leader has threatened to “totally destroy” NorthKorea, andwarnedthat theU.S. militarywas “locked and loaded” to take action if necessary. Kim has called Trump a“mentally de ranged dotard” and has said that his countrywas ready to fifight a nuclear war that would devastate the“entire” South Korea, the North’s statemedia said.
During the party meeting on Saturday, Kim said America’s hostility proved thatNorth Koreawas “absolutely right” to pursue its “byungjin” policy of seeking parallel development of nuclear weapons and the economy. Kim also claimed that the North Korean economy had grown despite escalating sanctions.
Kim also used the party meeting to promote those loyal tohimin theparty hierarchy. Hisyounger sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternatemember of thePolitburo — the top decision- making body that he leads.
The sister, whois incharge of the party’s propaganda department, is the only sibling active in Kim’s government. His eldest brother holds no known post.