As South Korea continues to expand military and intelligence cooperation with its allies, North Korea is pressing ahead with efforts to strengthen its nuclear deterrence against potential aggression. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has declared that the country has successfully achieved its nuclear deterrence objective.
Speaking at the Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim stated, “We possess the capability to deter war and are ready to respond immediately with retaliation if any force attacks us.”
Emphasizing that the North Korean military stands ready to carry out ruthless retaliation in response to any hostile military action against the country, Kim said, “Our army will launch an immediate and merciless retaliatory strike against any force that attempts hostile military actions aimed at undermining our sovereignty and security interests.”
Kim also underlined that under conditions in which the “international peace preservation system” has collapsed, safeguarding the right of the North Korean leadership and its people to survival and development has become the most important state matter and the primary responsibility of the armed forces.”