In an emphatic speech to veterans of the Korean War, which took place between 1950 and 1953, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned Wednesday night that he is ready to use his nuclear weapons. in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media reported.
“Our armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrents are also ready to mobilize their might absolutely diligently, accurately and quickly, in accordance with their mission,” Kim said, adding that those countries are bringing the Korean peninsula to the brink of war.
In addition, he accused Washington of “demonizing” North Korea to justify its hostile policies, saying the US and South Korean military exercises show the “double standards” and “gangster” aspects of the US government.
In his view, the North American country considers North Korea’s routine military activities – an apparent reference to its missile tests – to be provocations or threats.
Kim Jong-un launched his threat in a speech to veterans of the Korean War, which took place between 1950 and 1953. KCNA/AP Photo
Kim also said that the new government of the South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol it is run by “confrontation maniacs” and “mobsters” who have gone further than the nation’s previous conservative executives.
Since taking office in May, Yoon’s government has taken steps to strengthen Seoul’s military alliance with the United States and bolster its ability to neutralize North Korea’s nuclear threats, including a pre-emptive strike capability.
“Speak of military action against our nation, possessing weapons of absolute power that they fear the most is ridiculous and it is a suicidal action very dangerous,” Kim said.
Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol, respective presidents of the United States and South Korea, the countries targeted by Kim Jong-un. Photo EFE
And he added, in a threatening tone: “Such a dangerous attempt will be punished immediately by our mighty force and the government of Yoon Suk Yeol and his armed forces will be annihilated.”
His words had the apparent objective of promoting internal unity in the impoverished nation, which is going through economic difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the president has intensified his nuclear threats against Washington and Seoul, it is unlikely that he will use them given the superiority of both armies, according to experts.
South Korea’s response
South Korean Defense Ministry deputy spokesman Moon Hong-sik on Thursday reiterated Seoul’s previous position, which has been bolstering its military capacity and joint defense postures with Washington to deal with escalating nuclear threats from the North. . He also said that the army maintains a firm preparation.
In April, Kim said that your country could use nuclear weapons preemptively if threatened and pointed out that “they will never limit themselves to the sole mission of war deterrence.”
Kim’s forces have also tested nuclear-capable missiles that could reach both the US mainland and South Korea.
In recent months, officials from both nations have repeated that Pyongyang is ready to carry out its first nuclear test in five years.
With information from EFE and AP.
ES