North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a warning on Tuesday regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons in conflicts with South Korea and the United States. He stated that his country would accelerate its steps toward becoming a “military superpower,” as reported by the state news agency KCNA.
Kim has made similar threats to use nuclear weapons preemptively in the past. However, this latest warning comes amid speculation that North Korea may increase hostilities ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election next month.
In a speech at the Kim Jong-un University of National Defence, he declared that North Korea “will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities against its enemies” if they attempt to use armed forces against the nation.
He stressed the gravity of the situation, "The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case."
For the second time in a week, Kim specifically mentioned Yoon Suk-yeol, the president of South Korea, in criticism. He said Seoul was working with Washington to create instability in the area in order to draw attention away from its lack of adequate strategic weapons.
“Yoon Suk-yeol made some tasteless and vulgar comment about the end of the [North Korean] republic in his speech, and it shows he is totally consumed by his blind faith in his master’s strength,” Kim said, referring to South Korea's alliance with the United States.
He reassured his audience, “To be honest, we have absolutely no intention of attacking South Korea.” He noted that his position on the use of military force has always included the qualification “if.”
“If the enemies try to use force against our country, the republic’s military will use all offensive power without hesitation. This does not preclude the use of nuclear weapons,” Kim stated.
He reiterated, “Our footsteps towards becoming a military superpower and a nuclear power will accelerate,” reinforcing North Korea’s intentions.
Kim argued that North Korea’s nuclear response posture needs to be fully enhanced due to South Korea and the U.S. strengthening their military alliance through joint nuclear and strategic planning.
He asserted that the risk of upsetting the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula would rise as a result of this partnership.
Kim's words were probably a reaction to a new deterrent guideline between South Korea and the United States that was signed in July. The goal of the guideline was to counter North Korea's growing nuclear threats by combining South Korea's conventional capabilities with American nuclear weapons.
Notably, South Korea does not possess nuclear weapons. North Korea, however, has pursued a nuclear weapons program for decades and is believed to have enough fissile material to construct dozens of nuclear weapons.
The government has conducted six underground nuclear tests and established an aggressive nuclear posture in 2022, threatening to deploy nuclear weapons first if it detects threats to its leadership.
Given that American and South Korean forces vastly outgun North Korea's military, many experts doubt the country's capacity to carry out such threats.
North Korea's regime would fall if it attempted to deploy nuclear weapons, according to South Korean and American officials.
The Korean Peninsula has seen an increase in tension in recent weeks. North Korea has resumed its missile testing program and revealed a facility to generate weapons-grade uranium, a crucial component for nuclear weapons.
In response to inquiries concerning North Korea's latest disclosures, South Korea's President Yoon said that it was probably the goal of these moves to draw American notice before the election by hinting at major provocations like a nuclear test or long-range missile launch.
An American strategic bomber flew over during last week's Armed Forces Day military display in South Korea, which featured a ballistic missile with a sizable warhead.
"That day will see the end of the North Korean regime," Yoon declared in his speech that day, cautioning North Korea against deploying nuclear weapons.
Commentators speculate that, once a new administration assumes office, North Korea may use its growing nuclear weapons to demand concessions from the United States, including the lifting of sanctions.
Kim's speech was preceded by a report from KCNA on the same day that the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea was to meet to examine a potential constitutional amendment. There is a lot of attention on this session since it is anticipated that an amendment reflecting Kim's claim that unification is impossible would be approved.
Speculators surmise that this parliamentary gathering may officially proclaim a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula, rejecting attempts at South Korean reconciliation and formalizing new national boundaries, thereby cementing Kim's departure from earlier hopes for peaceful unification.
