SEOUL, December 31 (Reuters), – North Korea has pledged to launch three spy satellites in 2024, build military drones and increase its nuclear arsenal, as Kim Jong Un, the leader, said U.S. policies make war inevitable.
Kim’s lengthy remarks, which concluded five days of meetings between the ruling party and its members to set goals for economic, military, and foreign policy in the new year.
According to the state news agency KCNA, he stated that “a war could break out on the Korean Peninsula at any moment due to the reckless actions of the enemies.”
In response to an attack, he ordered the military prepare to “pacify all of South Korea”, including using nuclear bombs.
Kim’s speech is coming ahead of an election year in which both South Korea as well as the United States will be pivotal.
Experts predict that North Korea will continue to maintain a military campaign as leverage for the U.S. Presidential elections in November. This could lead to the return of Donald Trump, the former president who exchanged both threats and historic diplomatic relations with Kim.
Leif-Eric Easley is a professor of international studies and political science at Ewha Womans University, Seoul.
The administration of President Joe Biden says it’s open to dialogue, but has imposed new sanctions after North Korea continued with missile tests that were banned by United Nations sanctions.
The South Korean defence ministry has condemned Pyongyang’s plans to push ahead with its nuclear aspirations.
If North Korea uses nuclear weapons against us
We will use the dramatic to retaliate in a massive way
The defense ministry stated that the regime of Kim Jong Un will be brought to an end by a strengthened extended deterrence between the ROK and US alliance, as well as the three-axis systems.
In a statement analyzing KCNA’s report, Seoul’s Unification Ministry stated that “further provocations are always possible in order to highlight North Korea’s presence before the U.S. Presidential election”.
“North Korea could continue to maintain its hardline stance against the U.S., as well as anti-American and anti-imperialist support, while also seeking opportunities to change the situation at the same time.”
WAR: A “REALISTIC REALITY”
In addition, the U.S. also increased its drills, and deployed more military resources, including nuclear-armed subs and large aircraft carrier, near to the Korean Peninsula.
Kim claimed that the return of these weapons had transformed South Korea completely into an “advanced military base and nuclear Arsenal” of the United States.
Kim stated that “if we closely examine the military actions of the enemy, the word war has become a real reality and not an abstraction.”
Kim claimed he had no choice but forge closer ties with countries who oppose the United States and to continue his nuclear ambitions. North Korea is deeply connected to both China and Russia.
Yang Uk is an analyst with the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. She said that North Korea was preparing for a further escalation in tensions between Washington and Seoul for at least one year, and its hardline policies would be accompanied by attempts for dialogue ahead of the U.S. elections.
Kim is building on the success of his spy satellite by doing three more, because he understands that satellite capabilities are a powerful targeting tool for improved nuclear command and control.
In April, South Korea will hold a parliamentary vote that could have a significant impact on the domestic and international agenda of conservative President YoonSukYeol. He has maintained a aggressive position towards Pyongyang.
Kim stated that Pyongyang had now ruled out unification with South Korea and that the country needed to fundamentally alter its policy and direction towards South Korea.
“North-South relationships are no longer a homogenous or kinship relationship, but have become a relationship of two belligerents, two hostile countries at war,” said he, calling the South an colonised state that is completely dependent on the United States to ensure its national security and defence.
Both Yoon’s ruling party as well as the opposition democratic party condemned the Sunday report. They also urged North Korea back to the dialogue to resume peace talks.
“If North Korea continues to commit hostile acts, we’ll respond with all our might and use every method possible.” The ruling People Power Party stated that if the Kim Jong-un government misjudges and makes the wrong decision, it will be corrected by the Republic of Korea based on their overwhelming power.
Kim also pledged to develop the economy including metals, chemicals and power sectors as well as the machinery, railway and wheat facilities in order to boost production.
He said that one of the key goals for policy is to invest in scientific and technological research within schools.