Kim Jong Un Vows to Accelerate Military Development, Citing US and South Korea Modernisation
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to accelerate the development of his country’s military capabilities, citing the modernisation efforts of South Korea and the United States in the region. Pyongyang is under multiple sanctions for its nuclear programme, and the two Koreas technically remain at war as their 1950-1953 conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Speaking at a plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim addressed South Korea’s overt efforts to strengthen its armed forces. “Comrade Kim Jong Un in his closing speech reaffirmed the firm policy stand of our Party and state to more rapidly improve the national defence capabilities,” the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The remarks were made during a three-day party plenary that concluded on Monday, where senior North Korean officials reviewed policy initiatives. Kim noted that the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are continuing to push for the ROK’s possession of nuclear submarines while becoming increasingly overt in their efforts to strengthen and modernise armed forces in the region.
In response to these developments, KCNA reported that Kim said North Korea remains steadfast in accelerating efforts to “further expand and strengthen the powerful and genuinely reliable self-defence deterrence.” On the issue of nuclear weapons, the plenary meeting “unanimously recognised” that North Korea’s nuclear status is the most appropriate and unique way to actively and confidently confront the unpredictable international military and political situation.
Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear state since the 2019 summit between Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, which failed to reach a deal due to differences over the scope of denuclearisation and sanctions relief. Earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister, stated that the country’s nuclear policy is a “line with no retreat” and reaffirmed the regime’s position that it has no intention of giving up its nuclear arsenal.
On the economic front, the party plenary expressed full support and approval for plans to completely renovate coal mining areas across the country. Kim Jong Un called for the elimination of “centuries-old backwardness” still present in the coal industry.