SEOUL, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called on his party to “accelerate” war preparations, particularly in the nuclear sector, according to state media reports on Thursday.
This announcement follows Kim’s warning just a week ago that Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if provoked with nuclear weapons.
Kim made these remarks during the ongoing year-end party meeting in North Korea, where he is expected to reveal key policy decisions for 2024.
He urged the party to “further accelerate the war preparations” across various sectors, emphasising nuclear weapons and civil defence, as reported by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency.
The North Korean leader highlighted that the “military situation” on the Korean peninsula had become “extreme” due to “unprecedented” anti-North confrontations with Washington.
This comes as Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington have strengthened their defence cooperation in response to a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year, including a record-breaking intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch.
Kim’s call for acceleration in war preparations aligns with North Korea’s successful launch of a reconnaissance satellite, the inclusion of its nuclear status in its constitution, and the recent testing of its most advanced ICBM.
A defector-turned-researcher, Ahn Chan-il, predicts that North Korea is likely to deploy tactical nuclear weapons near the inter-Korean border and advance its nuclear program further in the new year.
This strategy aims to exert significant pressure on South Korea and the United States while maintaining close ties with traditional allies Russia and China.
The recent warning from the United States and South Korea that any nuclear attack from Pyongyang would result in the end of the Kim regime adds tension to the situation.
The allies also discussed nuclear deterrence options in their recent Nuclear Consultative Group meeting, prompting North Korea’s defence ministry to criticise plans for a nuclear operation drill in 2024 as “an open declaration on nuclear confrontation.”
Despite numerous UN Security Council resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the regime remains committed to its nuclear ambitions, viewing them as essential for its survival.
Kim’s recent calls for acceleration in war preparations signal potential challenges for regional stability in the coming year.
