North Korean Kim Jong Un issues fresh nuclear threats

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a fiery year-end speech, has escalated tensions by issuing new threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul.

State media reported on Sunday that Kim has directed a significant military arsenal build-up to prepare for a potential war that he warned could “break out any time” on the Korean peninsula.

During the culmination of five days of year-end party meetings that shaped the nation’s military, political, and economic policies for 2024, Kim strongly criticized the United States.

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported plans for extensive military development in the upcoming year, including the launch of three additional spy satellites, the construction of unmanned drones, and the development of electronic warfare capabilities. The agenda also emphasizes reinforcing nuclear and missile forces.

This year, Pyongyang achieved milestones such as successfully launching a reconnaissance satellite, officially declaring its nuclear status in the constitution, and test-firing its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Kim accused the United States of posing “various forms of military threat” and ordered his armed forces to maintain an “overwhelming war response capability.”

The meeting concluded with a stark warning, stating that it is a “fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula any time due to the enemies’ reckless moves for invading the DPRK.”

In response to perceived threats, Washington deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan this month and conducted joint drills with Seoul and Tokyo involving long-range bombers.

Kim declared a shift in policy by announcing that he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, citing an “uncontrollable crisis” triggered by Seoul and Washington.

Inter-Korean relations reached a low point this year, leading Seoul to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement aimed at defusing tensions.

The North Korean leader ordered the reorganization of departments handling cross-border affairs and emphasized the need to “fundamentally change the principle.” Analysts suggest that Kim’s emphasis on military capabilities may be an attempt to divert attention from economic challenges faced by the nation.

Leif Easley, a professor of international relations at Ewha University in Seoul, noted that Pyongyang’s bellicose rhetoric serves multiple purposes, including domestic politics and international coercion, beyond mere deterrence.

Despite international pressure and numerous UN Security Council resolutions, North Korea, declaring itself an “irreversible” nuclear power in 2022, remains steadfast in its commitment to maintaining its nuclear weapons program, viewing it as essential for its survival.