Kim Jong-un shows his muscles once again. The North Korean leader called for his country to “accelerate war preparations”, including its nuclear weapons program, due to the “serious political and military situation” caused by the “confrontational maneuvers” of the United States and its allies, the official KCNA agency reported this Thursday.
During the plenary meeting of the central committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the annual high mass of the single ruling party in North Korea, Kim Jong-un gave this order “to the People’s Army, to the manufacturing industry munitions, nuclear weapons and civil defense sectors.
A missile capable of reaching the United States
North Korea has conducted a record number of ballistic missile tests this year, in violation of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. In 2023, it engraved in its constitution its status as a nuclear power, successfully launched a military spy satellite, and also successfully tested the Hwasong-18, the most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal, capable to reach the United States.
For their part, the United States, South Korea and Japan have intensified their military cooperation, activating a real-time data sharing system on North Korean missile launches and increasing joint military maneuvers in the region. The American armed forces have notably sent to South Korea in recent months the nuclear-powered submarine USS Missouri, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and a B-52 strategic bomber, each time provoking the anger of North Korea .
Pyongyang sees the military maneuvers on its doorstep as a rehearsal for a future invasion of its territory, and has long viewed its missile tests as necessary “countermeasures.” Invariably supported by China, the country has also recently moved closer to Russia. According to KCNA, Kim Jong-un also called during the party meeting to “expand and develop strategic cooperation relations with independent and anti-imperialist countries”.