The BBC News Russian Service app is available for IOS and Android . You can also subscribe to our Telegram channel.
image copyrightKNCA/Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he would develop the country’s nuclear potential “at the fastest pace”
On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivered a speech at a military parade and promised to build up the country’s nuclear arsenal.
The parade, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, also featured intercontinental ballistic missiles.
In March, North Korea tested its largest known intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time since 2017.
This drew widespread condemnation from the international community.
After the tests, the US imposed new sanctions against Pyongyang. Intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons, in theory, allow the DPRK to strike the US mainland.
The parade also featured submarine-launched ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles.
However, Kim Jong-un does not seem to be bothered by Western opinion.
“We will continue to take steps to strengthen and develop our country’s nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace,” he said, adding that the country’s nuclear forces must be ready for exercises at any time, according to North Korea’s official Central News Agency.
image copyrightKCNA/Reuters
The statement was made at the parade dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army
North Korea’s nuclear weapons are essentially a deterrent to war but could be used for other purposes, he said, echoing previous rhetoric that the country would retaliate if attacked.
show of strength
Gene McKenzie, BBC correspondent in Seoul
Kim Jong Un wants North Korea to be recognized as a full-fledged nuclear power. He also wants the sanctions against his country to be lifted. But he understands that this is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.
Diplomatic advances in relations with the United States have stalled. President Biden said he would only consider lifting sanctions if North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons. In response, Kim Jong-un continued his nuclear program, testing ever more sophisticated weapons.
North Korea has always insisted that its nuclear weapons are a way to prevent war. But recently there has been talk in Pyongyang about the use of these weapons on the battlefield. In his speech, Kim once again stated that any army that seeks conflict with North Korea will cease to exist.
This show of force is intended not only to boost Kim Jong-un’s popularity, but also to bolster his security.
North Korea is not just isolated from the international community. During the pandemic, the country has effectively locked itself in from the inside and its economy is in a sorry state. Arms is one area where Kim can show progress to the people of North Korea.
Photos from the parade released by state media also show Hwaseong-17 rockets. North Korea said it conducted its first test launch of this huge intercontinental ballistic missile in March.
True, South Korean experts questioned the success of this test.
Pyongyang typically displays its new weapons in military parades, which often feature long columns of tanks, artillery and soldiers.
North Korea has tested several missiles this year, raising tensions on the peninsula and drawing military analysts’ attention to the parade.
In addition, satellite imagery showed that North Korea stepped up activity at its Pungeri nuclear test site in March. This raised fears that Pyongyang would resume testing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.
The parade also showed the rocket “Hwaseong-17”
Relations between the South and the North have deteriorated again after the recent presidential elections in South Korea. The new head of state, Yoon Sok-yeol, took a tougher stance against the northern neighbor.
Earlier in April, South Korean Defense Minister Soo Wook said Seoul had the means to strike North Korean missile launchers, prompting a furious response from Pyongyang.
In 2018, Kim Jong-un imposed a moratorium on long-range ballistic missile and nuclear testing following talks with then US President Donald Trump. However, two years later, he announced that he no longer considered himself bound by that promise.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has repeatedly said that it is ready to resume negotiations without preconditions, but so far has not shown much interest in them.
Instead, Biden is busy improving relations with South Korea and Japan and has backed former South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s efforts to mend relations between the two countries.
To keep getting BBC news, subscribe to our channels:
Download our application:
