Kim Jong-un's Public Appearance After Two Weeks... Presides Over Central Military Commission
"Aggressively Strengthen War Deterrence for Korean Peninsula Safety"
North Korea Unreachable for Five Days Since the 7th... Possible Unilateral Communication Cutoff
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un was seen holding a meeting with a map of South Korea spread out before him. This marks his first public appearance in half a month, and considering North Korea's claim that the purpose of strengthening its nuclear forces is to deter war, it is interpreted as an indication of intensified offensive measures against the South and the possibility of additional provocations.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 11th, Kim chaired the 6th expanded meeting of the 8th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party at the Party Central Committee headquarters the previous day, emphasizing the need to "practically and offensively expand and effectively operate our increasingly strengthened war deterrent power as a measure to more strictly control and manage the increasingly severe security situation on the Korean Peninsula." This public appearance by Kim came about two weeks after his guidance on the 'nuclear weaponization project' on the 27th of last month.
North Korea's Kim Jong-un presides over the Party Central Military Commission meeting [Photo by Yonhap News]
The meeting was attended by key members of the Party Central Military Commission and commanders of the Korean People's Army frontline combined units. The released photos captured key military leaders such as Chief of the General Staff Pak Su-il, Director of the General Political Bureau Jong Kyong-taek, and Minister of Defense Kang Sun-nam. North Korea also held consecutive expanded meetings of the Party Central Military Commission in February and March to discuss war readiness. It is considered unusual to hold meetings three months in a row when they are typically held every six months.
So far, North Korea has justified its nuclear and missile development as a means to deter war, so the 'war deterrent power' mentioned by Kim is interpreted as nuclear forces. The news agency explained, "(Kim Jong-un) clarified fundamental issues arising from continuously studying and implementing military measures to renew and complete the military's war-fighting capabilities while understanding frontline attack operation plans."
Additionally, the meeting photos publicly released that day drew attention as they included a map corresponding to South Korean territory. Kim was seen pointing with his finger to parts of the western and southern regions of the Korean Peninsula, which are presumed to be the area around Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, a U.S. military base in South Korea. Another official was also captured seemingly pointing near Gyeryongdae with a baton.
The detailed contents of the map were blurred and not disclosed, so specific discussion points remain unknown. However, the news agency stated, "We clearly recognize the seriousness of the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula, where the aggressive military policies and actions of the U.S. imperialists and the South Korean puppet forces are emerging as a threatening reality, and discussed important military issues related to further strengthening the country's defense capabilities and war preparedness in response."
North Korea's Kim Jong-un presides over the Party Central Military Commission meeting [Image source=Yonhap News]
The news agency also said, "Recently, the enemies have been brazenly spreading warmongering remarks such as 'occupation of Pyongyang' and 'decapitation operations' and have frantically conducted large-scale joint military exercises simulating all-out war against the Republic, deliberately inciting anti-Republic confrontational provocations and aggressive military actions, clearly revealing their impure aggressive nature through their actions." "We discussed practical issues and organizational measures to prepare various military action plans that are impossible to counter by any means or methods, and all decisions were unanimously adopted."
This statement is interpreted as a continuation of North Korea's recent trend of unveiling new weapons such as the cruise missile 'Hwasal' and the underwater nuclear torpedo 'Haeil.' Professor Lim Eul-chul of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University commented on the results of the Party Central Military Commission meeting, saying, "It appears to be an extension of Kim Jong-un's warning emphasizing 'a nuclear force that is overwhelmingly powerful and superior beyond imagination' at the site of the nuclear weaponization project guidance on the 27th of last month." He added, "It is expected that asymmetric strategic weapons, including nuclear unmanned underwater attack vehicles, and military action plans will continue to be disclosed."
Meanwhile, North Korea has not responded to regular calls for five consecutive days since the 7th until the 9 a.m. opening call on this day. South and North Korea regularly conduct opening calls at 9 a.m. and closing calls at 5 p.m. on weekdays through the Joint Liaison Office (Ministry of Unification) channel. Military authorities also conduct opening calls at 9 a.m. and closing calls at 4 p.m. daily via military communication lines. The government regards North Korea's silence as a 'unilateral cutoff.'
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