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Pyongyang’s official media stated on Sunday that North Korea is increasing war preparations against various sorts of US military “threats” by planning to launch three more spy satellites and develop more nuclear weapons next year.
Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, stated the objective on Saturday, Yonhap news agency said, capping five days of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee plenary meeting. This was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
“Based on the experience of successfully launching and operating the first spy satellite in 2023 in the space development sector, the task of launching three more spy satellites in 2024 was unveiled and all-out measures to spur the development of the space science technology were discussed,” the KCNA said.
After two unsuccessful efforts in May and August, the North successfully launched a military spy satellite, known as the Malligyong-1, into orbit on November 21. There are rumors that Russia may have given North Korea technological assistance in exchange for supplying armaments for use in Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.
Prioritizing increased efforts to produce more nuclear weapons, Kim outlined specific defense sector targets for the upcoming year.
“We need to swiftly respond to a possible nuclear crisis and mobilise all physical means, including nuclear force, in a bid to accelerate preparations for the great event of putting the entire territory of South Korea under our control,” Kim said.
He also ordered the Navy to enhance its military capabilities and called for developing powerful unmanned combat equipment, such as spy and attack drones, and means for electronic warfare, the KCNA said.
Earlier this year, the North’s leader ordered an expanded production of weapons-grade nuclear materials for an exponential increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal.
At a key party congress in 2021, North Korea unveiled key defense projects, including the development of a nuclear-powered submarine and multiple nuclear warheads, and the launch of a military spy satellite.
In July, North Korea unveiled two types of new reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones at an arms exhibition and a military parade. The North sent five drones across the border with South Korea in December 2022, with one of them penetrating a no-fly zone close to Seoul’s presidential office.
In regard to inter-Korean ties, Kim said he will no longer consider South Korea a counterpart for reconciliation and unification, saying Seoul has declared the North as a main enemy. The Workers’ Party has also concluded that unification with South Korea is not possible, Kim was quoted as saying.
Calling for a “fundamental change” in dealing with South Korea, the North’s leader said that inter-Korean relations have become those of “two hostile countries” or “countries engaged in state of combat.”
As North Korea concentrated on developing its nuclear and missile programs, including the launch of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, relations between South and North Korea remained extremely tense this year.
The leader of the North pledged to take a “offensive and ultra-powerful” posture against the United States in 2024 and criticized Washington for its military exercises with Seoul as well as the transfer of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula.
“If the US and the South pursue military confrontations with us, we will not hesitate to take a critical action against them with our nuclear deterrence,” Kim said.
North Korea has used an increase in joint military drills between the US and South Korea and Washington’s move to deepen security cooperation with its Asian allies, Seoul and Tokyo, as an excuse for boosting its weapons tests and provocations.
South Korea’s unification ministry “strongly” condemned North Korea for unveiling the plan to advance nuclear and missile programmes while expressing its blatant animosity against South Korea.
The ministry said North Korea is expected to step up preparations to develop strategic weapons and carry out weapons tests next year.
“North Korea is likely to stage any form of provocations next year to flex its military muscle as its leader directly ordered the great event of putting the entire territory of South Korea under its control,” it said.
North Korea strengthened its nuclear force policy and enshrined it in the constitution in September. The nation declared its status as a nuclear state to be “irreversible” when it passed a new nuclear law last year that authorized the use of nuclear weapons in a preemptive manner.
Kim referred to South Korea as a “undoubted enemy” and demanded a “exponential” expansion of the nation’s nuclear arsenal as well as the development of tactical nuclear weapons during the party plenary meeting last year.
Source:IANS
