North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned once again that North Korea may be putting its use of nuclear weapons at risk, as he staged a huge military parade in the capital Pyongyang with his top wing, AP reports.
Kim expressed a “strong desire” to continue to develop his nuclear-armed military so that it could “prevent and fully deter all dangerous attempts and threats and, if necessary, continue to advance from hostile forces.” including nuclear threats,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said on Saturday.
KCNA said Kim called on his military officials to praise their work at Monday’s parade, where the North demonstrated the largest number of weapons in its military nuclear program, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially hit the US homeland, and a variety of short-range solid-fuel missiles that pose a major threat to South Korea and Japan. KCNA did not say when the meeting took place.
The parade to mark the 90th anniversary of North Korea’s military came as Kim aimed to revive nuclear power by forcing the United States to acknowledge his country as a nuclear power and lifting crippling economic sanctions.
Speaking to thousands of soldiers and spectators gathered for the event, Kim vowed to develop his nuclear forces at the “fastest possible speed” and threatened to use them if provoked. He said his nuclear weapons “will not be limited to a single mission of war deterrence” in situations where the North faces external threats to its unspecified “fundamental interests”.
Kim’s comments suggested he would continue a provocative race in arms testing to ease pressure on Washington and Seoul. South Korea will inaugurate a new conservative government in May that could take a tough stance on Pyongyang after engagement policies derailed current liberal President Moon Jae-in.