Kim Jong-un warns of pre-emptive strike

North Korea’s state news agency KCNA reported today that during a meeting with top military officers, leader Kim Jong-un said that in order to “maintain absolute superiority” of the North Korean armed forces, the country must should be able to “pre-emptively, thoroughly, and frustrate all dangerous attempts and dangerous threats, including escalating nuclear threats from hostile powers, necessary”.

According to Kim Jong-un, North Korea should continue to build up its arsenal to have “overwhelming military power that no power in the world dares to provoke”, and called this “the lifeblood of security”. security of our country”.

The North Korean leader’s comments echo similar comments he made at a military parade on April 25, when he said that the nuclear arsenal could be used if North Korea’s “fundamental interests” were compromised. threaten.

North Korea this year staged several missile and weapon tests. The most recent event took place on April 16, when the North Korean military launched a new type of guided missile that “improved the combat effectiveness of tactical nuclear weapons” under the witness of leader Kim Jong-un.

South Korean intelligence reports that North Korea built an underground bunker at the Punggye-ri nuclear test facility, which was partially dismantled after the June 2018 summit between Kim and former US President Donald Trump.

Leader Kim Jong-un recently said he no longer felt bound by the moratorium on nuclear weapons testing, as denuclearization talks with the United States stalled.

The weapons tests took place as South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol was about to take office. Mr. Yoon is seen as taking a tougher approach to North Korea and has not ruled out a pre-emptive strike if necessary.

Analysts say Kim Jong-un’s warning shows he is not ready for dialogue with the new Seoul government. “He doesn’t appear to be interested in relations with the incoming administration in South Korea or restarting denuclearization negotiations with the US,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at the University of California. Ewha, Seoul, commented.

Huyen Le (According to AFP, CTV News)