Status: 01/01/2023 12:24 p.m
North Korea wants to massively expand its nuclear arsenal. Ruler Kim announced the construction of tactical and strategic warheads and justified this with attack plans by South Korea and the USA. Another weapon was also tested on New Year’s Eve.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to increase production of nuclear warheads “exponentially”. The goal is mass production of tactical nuclear weapons, KCNA reported on New Year’s Day, citing statements by Kim at a meeting of the Communist Party.
It is important to drastically increase North Korea’s clout in order to protect national interests against the USA and its allies, which are building up more and more military pressure on his country.
Kim accused South Korea of being wildly determined to rearmament and openly promoting its preparations for a war with North Korea. South Korea wants to work together with the USA towards a NATO-like regional military bloc. The nuclear arsenal would therefore have to be significantly increased.
New type of ICBM
In his speech, the ruler also ordered the production of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile, which should serve “quick retaliatory strikes”. While tactical nuclear weapons could be used primarily in battlefields on the Korean Peninsula, ICBMs could be used for use against the US. However, it is unclear whether North Korea has the necessary technical expertise.
Kim announced the launch of North Korea’s first military reconnaissance satellite in the near future, according to the report.
Kim also spoke to South Korea amid rising tensions. According to a statement from his office, President Yoon Suk-yeol called on the South Korean military to be able to punish any North Korean provocation with retaliation. According to South Korean information, drones from North Korea entered the airspace of the neighboring country after Christmas.
New missile test on New Year’s night
North Korea conducted a weapons test last night. According to a report by the state news agency KCNA, “an extremely powerful multiple rocket launcher” was tested.
As reported by the South Korean military, another short-range missile was launched towards the open sea. This was fired from the Yongseong region into the sea, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the general staff. According to information from Seoul, North Korea only had the day before fired three short-range ballistic missiles. UN resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles of any range.
Protests from Japan
Japan’s government protested Pyongyang’s behavior through its embassy in Beijing. China is credited with influencing North Korea’s leadership.
Concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program have grown since North Korea passed a new law last year allowing the pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons in a variety of situations.
Extension of maneuvers
The repeated threats prompted the United States and South Korea to expand their maneuvers and step up a trilateral security cooperation involving Japan.
The US military warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea on the United States or its allies and partners would mean the end of North Korea’s leadership.