The North Korean leader called for an exponential increase in nuclear weapons production in response to a “new Cold War,” the country’s state press reported this Thursday.
Kim Jong-un spoke during a two-day session of the North Korean parliament, which amended the constitution to enshrine the policy of expanding the country’s nuclear weapons program, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The parliamentary session, held on Tuesday and Wednesday, took place after Kim traveled to Russia this month to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit military and technological facilities.
The trip has raised concerns in the West about a possible arms alliance, given that North Korea would provide Putin with the necessary ammunition to fuel the war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic aid and advanced Russian technology to improve the nuclear systems and missiles of the country. North Korea.
As North Korea ends its lockdown due to the pandemic, Kim has been strengthening his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing, trying to break out of diplomatic isolation and join a united front against Washington. Kim described the world as entering a “new Cold War” and that North Korea must respond by strengthening its nuclear capabilities.
Also according to KCNA, assembly members unanimously approved a new clause in the constitution to “guarantee the country’s right to existence and development, deter war, and protect regional and world peace by rapidly developing nuclear weapons at a higher level.” advanced”.
“The policy of building the DPRK’s nuclear force [República Popular Democrática da Coreia, nome oficial do país] has become permanent as a fundamental law of the State, which no one is authorized to ignore,” declared the North Korean leader.
Kim also stressed the need to “advance work to exponentially increase nuclear weapons production and diversify means of nuclear attack,” the agency also noted.
The North Korean leader took aim at what he described as a growing threat posed by a hostile United States and the expansion of its military collaboration with South Korea and Japan, accusing them of creating the “Asian version of NATO, the principle behind the war and The agression”. “.
“This is simply the worst real threat, not threatening rhetoric or an imaginary entity,” he said.
The leader called on North Korean diplomats to “further promote solidarity with nations that oppose the hegemony strategy of the United States and the West.”
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have reached their highest level in recent years, with Pyongyang testing more than 100 missiles since early 2022 and the United States, in retaliation, intensifying military exercises with Asian allies.
Last year, the North Korean assembly approved a new nuclear doctrine that authorizes nuclear strikes if North Korea’s leadership is under threat.
Source: TSF
