North Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has asked for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and a greater nuclear arsenal to counter US-led threats, according to state media on Sunday, amid rising tensions between the rival Koreas.
Kim stressed the importance of securing “overwhelming military might” to safeguard its sovereignty and security at a gathering of the ruling Workers’ Party.
The meeting took place amid cross-border tensions over North Korean drones invading the South last week, as well as the North’s string of missile launches, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Kim accused Washington and Seoul of attempting to “isolate and suffocate” Pyongyang with constant deployment of US nuclear strike assets in South Korea, calling it “unique in human history.”
According to the official KCNA news agency, he promised to construct another ICBM system “whose principal objective is swift nuclear counter-strike” as part of a plan to strengthen the country’s nuclear force.
“The prevailing situation calls for making redoubled efforts to overwhelmingly beef up the military muscle … in response to the worrying military moves by the U.S. and other hostile forces,” it stated.
South Korea has become “our undeniable enemy,” Kim stated, because it is “hell-bent on foolish and deadly armament building” and aggressive military measures.
“It emphasises the need and necessity of mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons and asks for an exponential rise in the country’s nuclear arsenal,” Kim said, adding that this would be the “primary orientation” of the nuclear and defence strategy for 2023.
As part of the strategy, the government would also launch its first military satellite “as soon as possible” by increasing its drive to create a spy satellite, with final preparations for the vehicle, according to KCNA.
Super Large rocket launcher
The claim came only hours after North Korea conducted a rare late-night New Year’s Day missile test off its east coast.
On Saturday, the isolated country also launched three ballistic missiles, rounding off a year marked by a record amount of missile tests.
In a second statement, KCNA announced that it was testing a new 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launcher capable of carrying nuclear bombs.
Kim praised the munitions sector for providing 30 units of the system, describing it as a “core, offensive weapon” with a range that encompasses all of South Korea and the potential to conduct a surprise and accurate launch.
“We have declared our steadfast determination to respond with nuke for nuke and all-out confrontation for all-out confrontation,” Kim said at a delivery ceremony on Saturday, ordering more powerful weapons to “absolutely overwhelm the United States’ imperialist aggressive forces and their puppet army.”
Inter-Korean relations have traditionally been strained, but they have become even more so since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May, promising a harsher stance against Pyongyang.
The recent drone penetration reignited criticism of South Korea’s air defences, prompting Yoon to instruct the military to launch drones into the North “even if it meant risking escalation,” according to authorities.
The newest missile flew around 400 kilometres (249 miles) after being launched around 2:50 a.m. local time (1750 GMT) from the capital Pyongyang’s Ryongsong area, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
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Joint Chiefs of Staff sharply criticised the North’s missile launches
The Joint Chiefs of Staff sharply criticised the North’s missile launches as “grave provocations” and demanded an immediate cease.
According to Japan’s coast guard, the missile reached a height of approximately 100 kilometres and flew approximately 350 kilometres. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said Tokyo has denounced the launch to North Korea through diplomatic channels with Beijing.
The US Indo-Pacific Command said the launch did not pose an imminent threat to US personnel or territory, but it did underscore North Korea’s destabilising weapons development.
North Korea launched an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, pushing ahead with weapons development amid concerns that it would conduct a sixth nuclear test.
The North also began ICBM testing in November for the first time since 2017, successfully launching the enormous new Hwasong-17, which could target anyplace in the United States.
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