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Kim Jong Un plans to ‘exponentially increase’ North Korea’s nuclear weapons by 2023


North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to bolster his nuclear arsenal in the new year to deter hostile actions by the US and South Korea, in a policy-making speech he barely left open. the possibility of a return to the long-stalled disarmament negotiations.

In a speech at the end of a nearly weeklong meeting of his ruling Workers’ Party, Kim said Washington and Seoul were targeting his government, which increased the need to produce nuclear weapons. his personal, North Korean central authorities said. News Agency reports Sunday.

“Now, the South Korean puppet forces have regarded the DPRK as their ‘main army’ and openly declared ‘preparation for war’ assumed to be the undoubted enemy of the DPRK. us, which underlines the importance and necessity of mass production of tactical nuclear weapons and calls for the exponential increase of the country’s nuclear arsenal,” KCNA said. quoted Kim as saying in a report. The official name of his state is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and it uses lowercase letters in its media when referring to the neighboring country.

Mr. Kim’s report on the conclusion of the plenary meeting of his ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee appeared to replace his traditional New Year’s Day speech. He also pledged that his state would launch its first military satellite and develop a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be used to deliver warheads to the continental United States.

“The current situation requires a redoubled effort to increase military strength overwhelmingly in order to thoroughly ensure the sovereignty, security and fundamental interests of the Republic in the face of worrisome military moves. of the United States and other hostile forces precisely aimed at the DPRK,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying in the report.

With little threat of new sanctions and plans already underway to develop more weapons including drones, submarines and missiles, Kim has sought to continue honing his capabilities. its ability to carry out a credible nuclear strike against the United States and its allies, such as South Korea and Japan.

The North Korean leader has raised tensions to levels not seen in years by launching more than 70 ballistic missiles by 2022, lowering barriers to using nuclear weapons and saying he sees It is not necessary to return to the bargaining table to negotiate. return his nuclear arsenal in exchange for the lifting of sanctions that are choking his state’s poor economy.

His state fired three short-range ballistic missiles on the last day of the year and then fired another a few hours after the start of the new year in a show of force that could create tension. further escalate.

Kim in 2022 faces one of the toughest years of his decade in power on the domestic front, admitting there is a Covid outbreak in a country that has refused to support international vaccines. Inclement weather exacerbated chronic food shortages, and his decision to close the border at the start of the pandemic disrupted the little legal commerce his state had – causing a recession. The economy’s worst recession in decades.

Kim also appears poised to conduct his first nuclear test since 2017 as he seeks to miniaturize warheads for tactical weapons to attack South Korea and Japan, home to the majority of US troops. in Asia. An atomic explosion could also help increase the power of a warhead, which he can attach to an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the continental United States.

The United States, South Korea and Japan have pledged severe, coordinated sanctions if Kim tests a nuclear weapon. But years of sanctions and isolation have not caused Mr. Kim to change course. Now, it is almost impossible that Russia or China, which has veto power in the UN Security Council, will support any new measures against North Korea as they did in 2017 in a The series of tests caused global concern.

Kim ignored US efforts to return to nuclear disarmament talks and put her daughter in the state media to attend November’s ICBM launch – signaling that there is a Another generation is poised to take over the last continuous family dynasty of the Cold War and it will depend on nuclear weapons for its survival.

Kim is also showing signs of easing border restrictions to allow more trade with longtime partners China and Russia, which could weaken the global sanctions regime. The US has accused North Korea of ​​selling weapons to Russia in defiance of UN sanctions to aid Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine. Pyongyang has denied the allegation as baseless rumours, but it has also re-established the only railway line with Russia that was halted nearly three years ago due to Covid-19.

North Korea could flex its muscles in the coming weeks. Specialized service NK News speak Satellite images in December showed that thousands of North Korean soldiers had begun training for a parade.

In his speech a year ago, Mr Kim urged North Korea to focus on easing food shortages and curbing Covid, in an upbeat policy review on the New Year, showing the talks. Nuclear negotiations with the US are low priority.

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