North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with commanders of the Korean People’s Army, at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Party, in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on January 1, 2024. KCNA via REUTERS
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly urged the country’s military commanders to mobilize the most powerful means to destroy the United States and South Korea in the event of a military confrontation. According to state media on Monday, Kim emphasized the need to “sharpen the treasured sword” to protect North Korea amid what he perceives as hostile maneuvers by the United States and South Korea, suggesting that the danger of armed confrontation on the Korean peninsula is becoming a reality.
During a meeting with senior military leaders at the ruling Workers’ Party headquarters, Kim stated, “If the enemy opts for military confrontation, our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without a moment’s hesitation,” as quoted by KCNA news agency.
The remarks come as North Korea conducted significant military tests and advancements in 2023, including the testing of its largest ballistic missiles and the launch of its first military reconnaissance satellite. Kim’s call to upgrade the country’s military readiness aligns with the recent pledge made at a Workers’ Party meeting to enhance its nuclear arsenal, develop military drones, and launch three new spy satellites in 2024.
This escalation in rhetoric coincides with increased joint drills between the United States and South Korea, where strategic military assets, including a nuclear missile submarine, aircraft carriers, and large bombers, have been deployed. The heightened tensions also precede pivotal elections in both South Korea and the United States, potentially seen by Pyongyang as an opportunity to exert leverage through a campaign of military pressure.
In response, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged on Monday to expedite the completion of a missile defense system and a system using U.S. extended deterrence to “fundamentally deter any North Korean nuclear and missile threat.” Extended deterrence involves the strategic use of U.S. military assets, including nuclear weapons, to deter and respond to attacks against allies.
Separately, reports from KCNA highlighted Kim’s participation in a late-night “grand art performance” in Pyongyang to celebrate the new year. The event featured ice skaters, acrobats, choirs, and fireworks, conveying a sense of joy and excitement as North Korea welcomed the new year.
COMMENTS