Kim Jong-un says he wants a “rapid expansion” of his country’s nuclear capabilities in response to military exercises by the United States and South Korea.
Kim Jong-un Calls for Rapid Expansion of Nuclear Capabilities
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called on Monday, August 18, for the “rapid expansion” of his country’s nuclear capabilities in response to joint military exercises by the United States and South Korea, which he believes are intended to “trigger a war.”
“The growing military ties between the United States and South Korea and their show of force are the most obvious manifestation of their desire to trigger a war,” Kim Jong-un stated, according to the official Pyongyang news agency, KCNA, on Tuesday.
“The current situation requires us to operate a radical and rapid change in existing military theory and practice as well as a rapid expansion of nuclearization,” added the leader of North Korea, which possesses nuclear weapons. His statements were made the day before, during his visit to the domestically manufactured destroyer Choe Hyon, where he expressed satisfaction that the development of the ship – to make it a “high-tech building with nuclear weapons” – is progressing “as planned.”
South Korea and its American ally launched their annual joint exercises on Monday, aimed at improving their cooperation in the event of a conflict with the North. These maneuvers are scheduled to last eleven days and include “several large-scale live-fire exercises,” the US military explained, assuring that they have a “defensive vocation.”
South Korea Attempts to Show Openness with its Neighbor
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (center-left), elected in early June, promised on Friday to “respect” the North Korean political system and build bilateral “military trust.” But on the other hand, Pyongyang says it has no interest in easing tensions with Seoul.
Mr. Lee wants, in particular, a dialogue without preconditions, breaking with his conservative predecessor who maintained a hard line. South Korea also removed, in early August, the loudspeakers that broadcast K-pop and news bulletins at the border, with the army later stating that the North was doing the same. However, Kim Jong-un’s influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, denied this information.
Le Monde with AFP
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