Kim Jong-un Attends Military Parade, "Nuclear Force Will Act If Fundamental Interests Are Violated"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, expressed his intention to use nuclear weapons not only for war prevention but also when there is an attempt to infringe upon the fundamental interests of the state. This is interpreted as a more explicit nuclear threat aimed at South Korea and the United States.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Korean Central News Agency on the 26th, Kim gave a speech at the military parade commemorating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (anti-Japanese guerrilla forces) held the previous evening, stating, “The basic mission of our nuclear forces is to deter war, but if a situation arises on this land that we never desire, our nuclear weapons cannot be bound solely by the mission of war prevention.”

Kim emphasized, “If any force attempts to infringe upon the fundamental interests of our state, our nuclear forces will inevitably carry out their second mission unexpectedly,” and added, “The Republic’s nuclear forces must always be thoroughly prepared to activate their responsible mission and unique deterrent power.”

Kim also said, “We will continue to take measures to strengthen and develop our nuclear forces at the fastest possible speed,” and “We must qualitatively and quantitatively enhance our nuclear forces, which symbolize national power and form the basis of our military strength, so that nuclear combat capabilities can be exercised by various means according to different operational objectives and missions in any war situation.”

He further stated, “The current situation urges us to devise more proactive measures to permanently ensure the modernity and military-technical superiority of the Republic’s armed forces,” and added, “Our forces are confidently prepared for any fight. Any force that attempts military confrontation will be annihilated.”

Meanwhile, North Korea held a military parade at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang around 9 p.m. the previous day. Korean Central News Agency reported that General Secretary Kim attended with his wife, Ri Sol-ju.

Park Jong-chon, ranked first in the military hierarchy and who had not appeared recently, was seated on the presidium, and Ri Pyong-chol, whose position was unclear after being reprimanded in July last year, was introduced as a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee and Secretary of the Party Central Committee, confirming his reinstatement.

The news agency reported, “Veteran cadres such as Ri Myong-su, Tae Jong-su, Choe Yong-rim, and Kim Kyong-ok, who have long served in the party, government, and military, were invited.”

The new type intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-17, also appeared.

The agency stated, “On March 24, the entire square was instantly filled with joy and passion as it witnessed the tremendous appearance of the Hwasong-17, which soared like a Manridae Tower, demonstrating the absolute power of Juche Korea and the strategic status of the Republic to the whole world.”