SEOUL, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has threatened to expand his nuclear arsenal and develop more sophisticated weapon systems, saying the fate of relations with the United States depends on abandoning his hostile policy, state media reported on Saturday. .
Kim’s comments made this week during a major ruling party meeting were seen as pressure on President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration, who called Kim a “thug” and criticized his summit meetings with President Donald Trump.
The Central Korean News Agency quoted Kim as saying that “the key to establishing new relations between (North Korea) and the United States is whether the United States will withdraw its hostile policy”.
KIM JONG UN VOTES TO IMPROVE NORTH KOREA TIES OUTSIDE THE WORLD AS ECONOMIC PROBLEMS PERSIST
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a ruling party congress in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Thursday. (Associated Press)
Kim said he will not use his nuclear arsenal unless “hostile forces” intend to use his nuclear weapons against North Korea first. But he emphasized that North Korea must further strengthen its military and nuclear capabilities as the danger of a US invasion increases.
Kim did not cite any specific US actions. North Korea has already called for regular US military exercises with South Korea, US surveillance aircraft flights and the American military presence in South Korea as evidence of hostility. In particular, the North sees the US-South Korea exercises as an invasion trial, although the allies have repeatedly denied this.
Kim ordered officers to develop missiles with various warheads, nuclear missiles launched submarines, spy satellites and nuclear submarines. He said North Korea must also increase the precision attack capability on targets in the 15,000 km (9,320 mile) attack range, an apparent reference to the U.S. continent, and develop technology to manufacture smaller, lighter nuclear warheads for long-range missiles can be assembled more easily.
“Nothing would be more foolish and dangerous than not tirelessly strengthening our power and having a relaxed attitude at a time when we clearly see that the enemy’s state-of-the-art weapons are being increased more than ever,” said Kim. “The reality is that we can achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula when we are constantly increasing our national defense and suppressing US military threats.”
It is not clear whether North Korea is capable of developing such modern weapon systems. It is one of the most enclosed countries in the world, and estimates of the exact status of its nuclear and missile programs vary widely.
The ruling party congress met for the first time in five years. KCNA said Kim spoke for nine hours during his review of the party’s projects from Tuesday to Thursday.
The congress is the main decision-making body of the Workers’ Party and is being held as Kim faces what appears to be the most difficult moment of his nine-year government due to the triple blow to his already fragile economy – border closure related to pandemic that drastically reduced foreign trade in the North, a series of natural disasters last summer and US-led sanctions.
During his opening speech at the congress, Kim called the difficulties “worse” and “unprecedented”. He also admitted that his previous economic plans had failed and promised to adopt a new five-year development plan.
Kim’s high-risk nuclear diplomacy with Trump has been paralyzed for nearly two years because of U.S.-led sanctions disputes.
When Kim abruptly entered into talks with the United States, he expressed his intention to negotiate the non-advance of nuclear arsenals in exchange for economic and political benefits. But as the diplomatic stalemate continues, he openly commits himself to expanding the nuclear program he calls the “powerful precious sword” that can handle US hostility.
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Some foreign experts say Kim never intended to give up his nuclear weapons and just tried to use diplomacy with Trump as a way to weaken sanctions and buy time to perfect his arsenal. Months before his diplomacy with Trump began, Kim said he had acquired the ability to attack the American continent with nuclear missiles after a series of torrid weapon tests in 2016-17.
But the tests called for new rounds of crippling sanctions led by the United States, which impose a ban on major exports, such as coal, seafood and textiles, and a significant reduction in oil imports. Kim’s state media said these sanctions are “strangling and choking our country” and are proof of US hostility.
South Korea’s spy agency said Kim is concerned about Biden, who is unlikely to hold direct meetings with him unless North Korea takes serious steps towards denuclearization.