Kim Jong Un vows to increase readiness for war

2023-12-28 09:43:39, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for increased preparedness for war to repel what he calls unprecedented confrontational moves led by the United States, North Korean state media reported Thursday.

South Korea, on the other hand, has vowed severe retaliation against any provocation by North Korea.

Kim's comments, made during a political meeting - where targets for 2024 were unveiled - signaled that North Korea will continue to conduct nuclear tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal.

Observers have said Kim wants to use his nuclear arsenal to boost diplomatic bargaining with Washington if there is dialogue between the two sides after next year's US presidential election.

The meetings of the People's Party are expected to last several days and the details of the meetings will be made public after the end of the sessions on December 31.

Experts believe that North Korea is expected to make commitments and steps towards increasing its nuclear capacity and expanding cooperation with Russia and China, which are also rivals to the US.

South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday that it is highly likely that North Korea will carry out military provocations and cyber attacks ahead of South Korea's parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November next year. .

Since last year, North Korea has conducted several missile tests, violating the bans imposed by the United Nations.

Last week, the country tested the most advanced missile it has - the Hwasong 18 - which it believes has the capacity to hit US soil.

The North Koreans believe they have a legitimate and sovereign right to conduct such tests, citing military exercises between the US and South Korea, which they see as preparations for an invasion of their soil.

The verican leader has refused to dialogue with the USA, since the failure of negotiations in 2019, with Donald Trump, then US president.

The key issue in the Kim-Trump meetings was how some sanctions could be lifted for North Korea, in exchange for the nuclear disarmament of this country./ REL