Photo: Reproduction/KCNA
Kim Jongun, North Korean leader
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North Korean leader Kim Jongun called for a nuclear buildup and warned that he would not hesitate to “destroy” South Korea, the country's “main enemy,” the official KCNA news agency reported, Wednesday (10).
The statement was made during a visit by the dictator to several weapons and ammunition factories in North Korea, which was accompanied by senior party and army officials.
According to the agency, Kim said Pyongyang's priority must be “first and foremost strengthening military capabilities for selfdefense and nuclear deterrence.”
Furthermore, he stated that his country would not start a conflict “unilaterally” but also had “no intention of avoiding war.”
“If South Korea uses its armed forces against North Korea or threatens its sovereignty and security, we will not hesitate to destroy it,” he assured.
The two Koreas have technically still been at war since the end of the conflict in 1953, which ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. For over 70 years, the peninsula experienced alternating periods of high tension and relative relaxation. However, the rate is currently at its lowest level in decades.
Last year, North Korea signed up to its status as a nuclear power and launched several intercontinental ballistic missiles in violation of UN resolutions.
The United States, South Korea and Japan also accuse Pyongyang of violating international sanctions by sending missiles to Russia, a country at war with Ukraine.
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