Kim Jongun has included nuclear power status in the constitution of the communist country KCNA/Disclosure
North Korea has included nuclear power status in its constitution and its leader Kim Jongun has called for the production of more advanced nuclear weapons to counter the threat from the United States, the North Korean government announced on Thursday (28). State press.
Despite international sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs, North Korea has carried out a record number of missile tests this year, ignoring warnings from the United States, South Korea and other countries.
Diplomatic efforts have failed to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear arsenal. And after Kim declared the country’s nuclear status “irreversible,” this principle is now enshrined in the constitution.
“The policy of building a nuclear force of the DPRK [República Popular Democrática da Coreia] “The law is permanently enshrined as the basic law of the state, which no one can circumvent in any way,” North Korean leader Kim Jongun said during a session of the People’s Assembly, according to the official KCNA news agency.
Parliament, which follows the orders of the communist dictatorial regime, met on Tuesday and Wednesday. Kim said the country needed the weapons to defend itself against the existential threat posed by the United States and its allies.
Nuclear war
Washington “maximized its threats of nuclear war against our republic by resuming largescale nuclear war exercises of a clearly aggressive nature and mobilizing its strategic nuclear facilities near the Korean Peninsula,” the North Korean leader said.
Kim said increased defense cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo was the “worst real threat” to his country and that it was therefore very important to “accelerate the modernization of nuclear weapons.”
According to KCNA, he also emphasized the “need to advance work to exponentially increase the production of nuclear weapons and diversify nuclear strike capabilities.”
Japan responded, saying Pyongyang’s nuclear program was “totally unacceptable, a threat to peace and security.”
“We will work with the United States, South Korea and the rest of the international community to ensure compliance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as the complete denuclearization of North Korea,” Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.
Analysts say the inclusion of nuclear power status in the constitution further diminishes hopes of persuading Pyongyang to denuclearize the peninsula.
“Kim’s speech […] means the durability of its nuclear power,” Yang Moonjin, dean of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP.
“This further eliminates the prospect of denuclearization of North Korea,” he added.
Military tests conducted in Pyongyang this year include the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles and a simulated “tactical nuclear attack.”
The communist country also tried twice unsuccessfully to launch a military intelligence satellite into orbit.
South Korea and the United States responded by increasing defense cooperation, including several joint military exercises involving Japan.
Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their worst moments and diplomacy has stalled after failed attempts to discuss denuclearization.
Pyongyang’s U.N. representative Kim Song told the General Assembly this week that the peninsula was “on the brink of nuclear war.”
The country’s latest known weapons test involved the firing of two shortrange missiles, just as Kim traveled to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.
The meeting stoked Western fears that Moscow and Pyongyang would sign arms sales deals.
Analysts believe Moscow is interested in acquiring North Korean ammunition for the war in Ukraine, while Pyongyang wants Russian help in developing missiles and satellites.
Kim’s trip “and possible strengthening of military cooperation.” [com Moscou] “indicate a greater commitment to becoming a major nuclear power,” Yang Moonjin said.
Tanks, missiles and thousands of soldiers: South Korea shows strength at military parade
South Korea organized this Tuesday (26) the first military parade in a decade with the unprecedented participation of the United States, a show of force at a time of tension with North Korea
Nearly 4,000 soldiers took part in the parade in central Seoul, which also showcased 170 tanks, drones and missiles and was applauded by a crowd carrying South Korean flags.
Nearly 300 American soldiers took part in the parade, an unprecedented event that showcased the strength of the military alliance between the two countries in the face of the nuclear threat from North Korea
Seoul normally hosts a military parade every five years, but the 2018 edition was replaced by a more sober ceremony by thenleftist President Moon Jaein, who sought to forge rapprochement with his northern neighbor.
The country is currently led by Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who has taken a hard line against Pyongyang. Since taking office as president in May 2022, South Korea has increased military cooperation with the United States and Japan
Yoon also led a ceremony at an air force base. At the event, he celebrated the strengthening of USSouth Korea defense relations
“If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, its regime will be contained by an overwhelming response from the U.S.South Korea alliance,” Yoon said.
The first military parade in 10 years “is an unsubtle and visually provocative gesture by the South Korean government to send a message to (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un that Seoul will not back down and will not pursue any form of reconciliation,” Soo Kim, by LMI Consulting and former CIA analyst, told AFP
South Korea is a major arms exporter. In 2022, arms sales generated $17.3 billion (R$85.8 billion). Seoul does not sell weapons to warring countries.