Unification Ministry "Condemns North Korea's Obsession with Developing Lethal Weapons"

Ministry of Unification Evaluates Results of North Korea's 6th Plenary Meeting
"Kim Ju-ae Reappears... Will Monitor Developments"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of Unification sharply criticized the results of the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea held by North Korea at the end of last year, stating, "We cannot help but deplore the attitude of obsessing over the development of weapons of mass destruction while ignoring the dire lives of the people."

Cho Jung-hoon, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 2nd, "Chairman Kim Jong-un explicitly defined our side as a clear enemy and openly threatened military action by mentioning the possibility of preemptive nuclear use."

Cho Jung-hoon, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification Photo by Yonhap News

Spokesperson Cho said, "Overall, North Korea focused on the idolization of Kim Jong-un and regime consolidation domestically at this plenary meeting, while externally concentrating on fostering hostility toward the U.S. and South Korea."

He added, "Militarily, they presented the legalization of nuclear force policy as an achievement, and considering mentions of developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), mass production of tactical nuclear weapons, and exponential increases in nuclear warhead stockpiles, it is expected that they will continue to escalate nuclear and missile development this year."

He further urged, "As we welcome the new year 2023, we once again call on North Korea to abandon its wrong path and come forward toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and the joint prosperity of our people," emphasizing the need to respond to the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's denuclearization roadmap, the 'Bold Initiative.'

In the plenary meeting report released the previous day, Chairman Kim Jong-un stated, "(The South) is undoubtedly our clear enemy," and added, "The current situation demands mass production of tactical nuclear weapons and an exponential increase in nuclear warhead stockpiles." This is interpreted as indicating that strengthening nuclear weapon capabilities aimed at the South is the core of North Korea's defense strategy for this year.

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and his second daughter Kim Ju-ae inspecting a facility presumed to be a missile base. / Chosun Central TV [Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Spokesperson Cho commented on the reappearance of Kim Jong-un's second daughter, Kim Ju-ae, saying, "Regarding Kim Jong-un's daughter, North Korean media have reported on her three times so far," and "Since she continues to be publicly reported, the government will keep monitoring related developments and continue to assess them."

Earlier, Korean Central Television revealed footage on the afternoon of the previous day showing Chairman Kim and Kim Ju-ae inspecting missile-related facilities. The locations they inspected are presumed to be missile factories or launch bases, but the exact time and place were not disclosed. Kim Ju-ae's public appearances have been three times: at the test launch site of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17' on November 18 last year, at the celebration event for the Hwasong-17 launch on November 26 of the same year, and now this latest occasion.