North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his military should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported Monday, after he vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation.
Quick Read
- Kim Jong Un’s Aggressive Stance: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has stated that his military should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, intensifying his warlike rhetoric amid expanding U.S.-South Korean military drills.
- Boost in Defense Capabilities: Kim Jong Un plans to enhance North Korea’s national defense significantly. This includes launching additional military spy satellites, producing more nuclear materials, and developing attack drones in 2024.
- Preparation for U.S. Presidential Election: Kim’s actions suggest he is escalating tensions to potentially negotiate concessions from the U.S. if Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential election.
- South Korea’s Response: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized strengthening preemptive strike capabilities, missile defense, and retaliatory measures against North Korea’s nuclear threats.
- Hostile References to South Korea: Kim Jong Un derogatorily referred to South Korea as a society tainted by “Yankee culture” and a “hemiplegic malformation and colonial subordinate state.”
- Threat of Nuclear Weapons: Kim Jong Un emphasized that North Korea would utilize nuclear weapons to “suppress the whole territory of South Korea” if a conflict arises.
- South Korea’s Stern Warning: South Korea’s Defense Ministry warned that any North Korean nuclear attack would be met with overwhelming retaliation, potentially leading to the end of the Kim government.
- Restructuring Inter-Korean Relations: North Korean officials are discussing implementing Kim’s order to restructure organizations handling relations with South Korea, potentially altering the dynamics of inter-Korean relations.
- Expectation of Border Clashes: Experts anticipate possible small-scale military clashes between North and South Korea along their heavily fortified border.
- Prospect of ICBM Tests: North Korea is expected to test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland and other advanced weapons.
- Background on U.S.-North Korea Talks: Kim Jong Un’s past talks with Donald Trump did not yield significant progress, with disagreements over denuclearization steps and sanction relief.
- Increased Missile Tests: North Korea conducted over 100 missile tests since 2022, leading to expanded U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.
- Relations with China and Russia: North Korea has been enhancing ties with China and Russia, who have blocked efforts to tighten U.N. sanctions against North Korea.
- Suspicion of Arms Supply to Russia: There are suspicions that North Korea is supplying conventional arms to Russia for the war in Ukraine in exchange for advanced military technologies from Russia.
- Size of North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal: Estimates vary on the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, with some suggesting it possesses between 20-30 bombs, while others believe it could be over 100.
The Associated Press has the story:
North Korea’s Kim says military should ‘thoroughly annihilate’ US, South Korea if provoked
Newslooks- SEOUL, South Korea (AP)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his military should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported Monday, after he vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation.
North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric in recent months in response to an expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills. Experts expect Kim will continue to escalate his rhetoric and weapons tests because he likely believes he can use heightened tensions to wrest U.S. concessions if former President Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election in November.
In a five-day major ruling party meeting last week, Kim said he will launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and develop attack drones this year in what observers say is an attempt to increase his leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.
In a meeting Sunday with commanding army officers, Kim said it is urgent to sharpen “the treasured sword” to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to his country’s nuclear weapons program. He cited “the U.S. and other hostile forces’ military confrontation moves,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
Kim stressed that “our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without moment’s hesitation” if they opt for military confrontation and provocations against North Korea, KCNA said.
In his New Year’s Day address Monday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he will strengthen his military’s preemptive strike, missile defense and retaliatory capabilities in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.
“The Republic of Korea is building genuine, lasting peace through strength, not a submissive peace that is dependent on the goodwill of the adversary,” Yoon said, using South Korea’s official name.
At the party meeting, Kim called South Korea “a hemiplegic malformation and colonial subordinate state” whose society is “tainted by Yankee culture.” He said his military must use all available means including nuclear weapons to “suppress the whole territory of South Korea” in the event of a conflict.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry warned in response Sunday that if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, South Korean and U.S. forces will punish it overwhelmingly, resulting in the end of the Kim government.
KCNA said North Korean officials held talks on Monday to implement an order by Kim to disband or reform organizations handling relations with South Korea to fundamentally change the principle and direction of the North’s struggle against the South. There was no immediate explanation of how that might alter inter-Korean relations, which have been stalled for an extended period.
Experts say small-scale military clashes between North and South Korea could happen this year along their heavily armed border. They say North Korea is also expected to test-launch intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the mainland U.S. and other major new weapons.
In 2018-19, Kim met Trump in three rounds of talks on North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal. The diplomacy fell apart after the U.S. rejected Kim’s offer to dismantle his main nuclear complex, a limited step, in exchange for extensive reductions in U.S.-led sanctions.
Since 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, prompting the U.S. and South Korea to expand their joint military exercises. North Korea has also tried to strengthen its relationships with China and Russia, which blocked efforts by the U.S. and its partners in the U.N. Security Council to toughen U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its weapons tests.
KCNA said Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged New Year’s Day messages on Monday on bolstering bilateral ties. North Korea faces suspicions that it has supplied conventional arms for Russia’s war in Ukraine in return for sophisticated Russian technologies to enhance the North’s military programs.
Estimates of the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from about 20-30 bombs to more than 100. Many foreign experts say North Korea still has some technological hurdles to overcome to produce functioning nuclear-armed ICBMs, though its shorter-range nuclear-capable missiles can reach South Korea and Japan.
