North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again issued a threat regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons in conflicts involving South Korea and the United States. The warning came as Kim accused both countries of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as reported by state media on Tuesday.
During a speech at a university named after him, the “Kim Jong Un University of National Defense,” Kim stated that North Korea would not hesitate to utilise all its attack capabilities against its enemies if they were to initiate the use of armed forces against North Korea. He emphasised that the use of nuclear weapons was not off the table in such a scenario.
Kim expressed the need for North Korea to enhance its nuclear response posture due to South Korea and the United States enhancing their military alliance with joint nuclear and strategic planning. This, according to Kim, would destabilise the power balance on the Korean Peninsula.
Experts have noted that since adopting an aggressive nuclear doctrine in 2022, North Korea has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons first if it perceives a threat to its leadership. However, doubts remain about North Korea’s ability to follow through on such threats, given the military superiority of the US and South Korean forces.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been escalating with North Korea unveiling a facility for producing weapons-grade uranium and conducting a series of missile tests. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that North Korea’s recent actions were likely aimed at gaining attention ahead of the upcoming US presidential election.
Analysts speculate that North Korea may leverage its expanded nuclear arsenal to seek concessions, such as sanctions relief, from the US after the presidential transition. The ongoing parliament meeting in North Korea was expected to possibly reject reconciliation with South Korea and solidify new national borders, reflecting a shift in policy towards a more hostile stance.
All exchanges and cooperation programmes between North and South Korea have remained inactive since the breakdown of US-North Korea diplomacy in 2019. The situation remains tense as North Korea’s actions and rhetoric continue to stir concerns in the region.