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North Korean leader (North Korea) Kim Jong-un inspects the launch of a strategic cruise missile fired from a patrol ship of the East Sea Fleet. Photo/X/@DDNewslive
SEOUL – North Korean leader (North Korea), Kim Jong-un said, would equip some of his naval vessels with nuclear weapons. He also promised to make his navy a key component of Pyongyang’s nuclear deterrent.
Kim Jong-un announced the move during a visit to North Korea’s naval base on Sunday. He told the sailors that some of the ships would soon be equipped with tactical nuclear weapons and become part of the country’s nuclear force.
“Our Navy must play the greatest role in defending the sovereignty, dignity and development and interests of the DPRK,” Kim Jong-un said, according to a transcript of the speech released by KCNA early Tuesday.
The young dictator uses an acronym from North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“Defending the country’s security is only possible with a fully prepared naval force,” he added as quoted by Russia Today, Tuesday (29/8/2023).
Kim Jong-un went on to state that US imperialists and other regional rivals are becoming more frantic than ever, citing several rounds of joint military exercises between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo in recent months.
“Due to the reckless confrontational actions of the US and other hostile forces, the waters off the Korean Peninsula have been reduced to the world’s largest concentration of armaments, the most unstable waters with the danger of nuclear war,” Kim continued, also citing the permanent placement of US nuclear assets in the waters. around the Korean peninsula.
In addition to increasing drills, the United States (US), Japan and South Korea (South Korea) have embarked on other forms of military cooperation over the past year, including information sharing, joint missile defense projects and even joint nuclear planning.
Pyongyang has repeatedly accused the three allied nations of plotting attacks against North Korea, though Washington insists the military action is purely defensive.
(ian)
