North Korea will accelerate the development of its nuclear arsenal, leader Kim Jong Un said during a massive military parade that displayed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and other weapons, state media reported on Tuesday.
The parade took place on Monday night during celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Armed Forces, state news agency KCNA said.
Pyongyang has stepped up weapons tests and demonstrations of military might amid stalled denuclearization talks with the United States and a new conservative government in South Korea.
US and South Korean officials say there are signs of new construction at North Korea’s only known nuclear test site, which has been officially closed since 2018, suggesting Pyongyang may be preparing to resume testing such weapons.
“The Republic’s nuclear force must be ready to exercise its responsible mission and unique deterrence at any time,” Kim said, according to KCNA. The core mission of the North’s nuclear force is to prevent war, but that may not be the only use, he added.
“If any force tries to intrude on our nation’s fundamental interests, our nuclear forces will be forced to unexpectedly carry out their second mission,” Kim said.
The parade featured North Korea’s largest known ICBM, the Hwasong-17. The massive missile was first tested last month, but South Korean officials believe efforts to carry out a full test ended in an explosion over Pyongyang.
Photos from the parade show the Hwasong-17, as well as other submarine-launched hypersonic and ballistic missiles (SLBMs), among other weapons on trucks and launch vehicles amid crowds of observers and participants.
The celebration also featured rows of conventional weapons such as artillery, rocket launchers and prototype tanks, as well as tens of thousands of soldiers shouting “long live” to Kim Jong Un.
North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, which imposed sanctions on the country.
In the latest weapons test on April 16, Kim oversaw the launch of what state media said were short-range missiles that could deliver tactical nuclear weapons.
During a visit to Seoul last week, Sung Kim, the US envoy to North Korea, said the allies would “respond responsibly and decisively to provocative behavior”, while underlining his willingness to engage with North Korea. “anywhere without any conditions”.
North Korea said it was open to diplomacy but called Washington’s proposals insincere and “hostile policies” such as sanctions and military exercises with the South.
Source: CNN Brasil
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