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North Korea's Kim Vows to Accelerate Military Buildup, Citing Regional Threats
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

North Korea's Kim Vows to Accelerate Military Buildup, Citing Regional Threats

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to accelerate military buildup, citing modernization efforts by the US and South Korea as pushing the region toward nuclear war.
  • Kim presided over a Workers' Party meeting where officials reviewed policy initiatives and agreed to expand nuclear forces at increasing speed.
  • The leader stated North Korea's steadfast policy is to strengthen its self-defense deterrent in response to perceived threats from the US and South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to rapidly bolster the nation's defense capabilities, accusing the United States and South Korea of escalating regional tensions to the brink of nuclear war through their military modernization efforts. State media reported Tuesday that Kim delivered a speech at the conclusion of a three-day Workers' Party meeting, where senior officials reviewed policy initiatives.

Comrade Kim Jong Un in his concluding speech reaffirmed the steadfast policy stand of our Party and state to beef up the national defense capabilities faster.

— KCNAQuoting Kim Jong Un's speech at a Workers' Party meeting.

During the meeting, Kim reportedly stated that the US and South Korea's pursuit of South Korea's nuclear submarine possession and military reinforcement were pushing the Korean Peninsula toward a nuclear conflict. In response, he affirmed North Korea's commitment to expanding and strengthening its "powerful and absolutely reliable deterrent for self-defense."

the US and the ROK are pushing forward with the ROK's possession of a nuclear submarine while getting evermore undisguised in their moves towards the reinforcement and modernization of armed forces in the region

— Kim Jong UnDescribing the actions of the US and South Korea.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the party meeting unanimously recognized the expansion and strengthening of nuclear forces as the "most correct and unique way" to navigate the unpredictable international situation. The development of North Korea's war deterrent, based on nuclear technology, is set to proceed "at increasing speed."

pushing the situation in the Korean peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war

— Kim Jong UnDescribing the perceived consequences of US and South Korean actions.

Pyongyang has previously declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state and has shown no intention of abandoning its arsenal. Kim's sister, Yo Jong, recently reiterated this stance, calling the North's nuclear policy a "line of no retreat."

steadfast stand... further expand and strengthen the powerful and absolutely reliable deterrent for self-defense

— Kim Jong UnStating North Korea's policy in response to perceived threats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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