Status: 9/9/2022 7:22 a.m
According to North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un, his country’s status as a nuclear power has become irreversible. Dealing with nuclear weapons has now been enshrined in law – this includes possible nuclear strikes in the event of an attack.
North Korea has enshrined its nuclear weapons policy in law. The Supreme People’s Assembly – North Korea’s effectively powerless parliament – passed a law that would allow the country’s military to “automatically” launch nuclear strikes against enemy forces should the leadership in Pyongyang come under attack. Such a nuclear strike could take place automatically in order to destroy the source of the provocation, North Korean state media reported. The law is interpreted by observers as the basis for a possible nuclear first strike – in the event that another state poses an immediate threat to North Korea.
According to the North Korean news agency KCNA, ruler Kim Jong Un said that with the new law “our country’s status as a nuclear-weapon state has become irreversible”. He added: “Hereby an irrevocable line is drawn that there will be no negotiations whatsoever regarding our nuclear weapons.” North Korea is subject to tough international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program. The country already describes itself in its constitution as a nuclear power. According to North Korean state media, the law that has now been passed prohibits any transfer of nuclear weapons or nuclear weapons technologies to other countries.
Kim raises allegations against USA and South Korea
In his speech, Kim accused the United States of forcing a pressure campaign against his country in order to weaken its defense capabilities and ultimately bring about the collapse of his government. The ruler also criticized South Korea’s plans to increase its conventional military capability and resume large-scale maneuvers with the US. These “dangerous” military actions only increased tensions, Kim said.
Since January, North Korea has conducted a slew of weapons tests, including launching an ICBM. At the same time, North Korea blamed the hostile South Korea for the corona outbreak in the isolated country.