North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced that North Korea will expedite its efforts to become a global military superpower with nuclear capabilities, while also emphasizing the potential use of these weapons in response to any attack. In a speech, Kim criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his alliance with the United States, accusing Seoul of destabilizing the region. Despite his rhetoric, Kim clarified that North Korea has no intention of attacking South Korea unless provoked.
Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to strengthening its nuclear arsenal, warning that the military would not hesitate to use all its offensive power, including nuclear weapons, if enemies were to attack the country. This comes amid rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula, following South Korea’s military display last week, which featured a ballistic missile capable of carrying a large warhead and a U.S. strategic bomber flyover. In response to Yoon’s warning that any use of nuclear weapons by the North would result in the end of the regime, Kim has intensified his rhetoric.
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Additionally, North Korea is reportedly working on new military technologies, including a submarine drone potentially capable of carrying nuclear weapons and a nuclear-powered submarine. South Korean intelligence has indicated that North Korea may be receiving support from Russia in developing these capabilities.
Meanwhile, Kim’s remarks coincide with a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, where a constitutional amendment is expected to formalize the North’s break from its longstanding goal of national unification with the South. This marks a significant shift in policy, potentially redefining the South as a “principal enemy.”
In a separate development, Kim sent birthday greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, affirming the deepening strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia. South Korea’s Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has suggested that North Korea may be considering deploying troops to assist Russia in the Ukraine war, a claim supported by reports of North Korean military officers killed in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Despite this, both Pyongyang and Moscow have denied allegations of North Korea supplying arms to Russia.
These developments signal a further escalation of tensions in the region and raise concerns about North Korea’s growing military ambitions, as well as its deepening ties with Russia.
