Kim Jong Un Warns of Nuclear Retaliation Against South Korea

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a stern warning, stating that his country would not hesitate to deploy its full military arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if its sovereignty is threatened. The statement was reported by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA on Friday, reflecting escalating tensions between North and South Korea.

 

Kim's comments were a direct response to remarks made by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during an event marking South Korea’s Armed Forces Day. Yoon had warned that any use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang would lead to "a resolute, overwhelming response" from both South Korea and its ally, the United States. “That day will see the end of the North Korean regime,” Yoon said during the event, which also featured a military parade showcasing South Korea's ballistic missile capabilities and a flyover by a U.S. bomber.

 

Kim Jong Un criticized Yoon's statements, asserting that they demonstrated who was truly responsible for destabilizing regional peace and security. According to KCNA, Kim remarked that Yoon “bragged about overwhelming counteraction of military muscle at the doorstep of the state possessed of nuclear weapons.” He went on to describe Yoon’s behavior as "a great irony that caused the suspicion of being an abnormal man."

 

In his address, Kim reiterated that North Korea's military strength remained unshaken by external threats. “If the enemy, seized with extreme foolishness and recklessness, attempt to use armed forces encroaching upon the sovereignty of the DPRK, the DPRK would use without hesitation all the offensive forces it has possessed, including nuclear weapons,” he said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea.

 

The KCNA report indicated that Kim delivered his remarks during a visit to a training base for special operation units within North Korea’s army on Wednesday. North Korea has long pursued a nuclear weapons program, conducting six underground nuclear tests over the years. It is believed to possess enough materials to build dozens of nuclear weapons, making its threats a serious concern for the region and the international community.

 

Kim emphasized that the threats from South Korea and its allies would not deter his country's military development. “The enemies’ threatening rhetoric, action, trick and attempt did not check the DPRK’s powerful military strength and will not take away our nuclear weapons forever,” KCNA quoted him as saying.

 

Based on a report from NBC News 2024-10-05