North Korea has enshrined its policy of expanding its nuclear arsenal in its constitution. The country should rapidly develop “high-level nuclear weapons” to maintain “regional and global peace.” Criticism comes from Japan and South Korea.
North Korea has enshrined the expansion of its nuclear weapons program in its constitution. Members of the Supreme People’s Assembly unanimously approved a new clause in the constitution to ensure the country’s “right to exist and develop, deter war and maintain regional and global peace,” state media reported.
To achieve this, North Korea should rapidly develop “high-level nuclear weapons”. In a speech, ruler Kim Jong Un described strengthening the nuclear force as the basic idea of North Korean policy. It is now permanently cemented in the Basic Law and no one is allowed to violate it.
“Increase exponentially” production
He called for the production of nuclear weapons to be “exponentially increased” and used, as the US had gone to extremes with its “military provocations” and the deployment of strategic facilities in the region.
His country should also play a larger role in an alliance of states that is seeking confrontation with the USA in a “new Cold War”, according to the state news agency KCNA. Kim spoke of a “historic event that represents a powerful political lever for strengthening national defense capability.”
Kim described the recently increased security cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo as the “worst current threat.” As a result, it is “very important” for North Korea to “accelerate the modernization of nuclear weapons.” Kim once again accused the US of wanting to overthrow his government and form a kind of Asian version of NATO together with its allies South Korea and Japan. This is the “root of war and aggression,” according to Kim. Washington denies North Korea’s accusation of pursuing a hostile policy.
Criticism from Japan and South Korea
The South Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul said that government representatives from South Korea, the USA and Japan had “strongly condemned” the constitutional change during joint discussions. Japan described North Korea’s nuclear weapons program as “absolutely unacceptable.”
“North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and missiles threatens the peace and security of our country and the international community,” said Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno. “We are working with the United States, South Korea and the rest of the international community toward full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the complete denuclearization of North Korea.”
Concern about nuclear weapons testing
Despite the ban imposed by UN resolutions, North Korea has expanded the scope of its tests of ballistic missiles, which, depending on the design, can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The country has already carried out numerous missile tests this year.
The USA and South Korea have been warning for months that North Korea could also carry out a nuclear weapons test in the near future. It would be the first such test since 2017. Washington and Seoul resumed their full-scale joint military exercises after reducing or completely canceling them for a long time in order, according to their own statements, to give more space to diplomacy in the nuclear dispute with North Korea.
North Korea is subject to international sanctions because of its weapons programs. A year ago, the North Korean parliament had already enshrined the use of nuclear weapons in law. Kim declared the status “irreversible” at the time. The law also allows the preventive use of nuclear weapons.