Share this @internewscast.com

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to launch three additional military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials and introduce attack drones in 2024, as he called for “overwhelming” war readiness to cope with U.S.-led confrontational moves, state media reported Sunday.

Kim’s comments, made during a key ruling Workers’ Party meeting to set state goals for next year, suggest he’ll intensify a run of weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential elections in November. Observers say Kim believes a boosted nuclear capability would give him another chance for high-stakes diplomacy with the U.S. to win sanctions relief if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.

During the five-day meeting that ended Saturday, Kim said “vicious” anti-North Korea moves by the United States and its followers “have reached the extremes unprecedented in history,” pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim cited the expansion of U.S.-South Korean military exercises and the temporary deployment of powerful U.S. military assets such as bombers and a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea — the steps the allies have taken in response to the North’s weapons testing spree since last year.

Kim called for “the overwhelming war response capability” to deter potential enemy provocations, KCNA said.

He set forth plans to launch three more military spy satellites next year in addition to the country’s first reconnaissance satellite launched in November. He underscored the need to establish “a reliable foundation” to build more nuclear weapons, an apparent reference to facilities producing fissile materials like weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium. Kim also ordered authorities to enhance submarine capabilities and develop various types of unmanned combat equipment such as armed drones.

“Pyongyang might be waiting out the U.S. presidential election to see what its provocations can buy it with the next administration,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“The Kim regime has closed the political door on denuclearization negotiations but could offer rhetorical restraint and a testing freeze in exchange for sanctions relief,” Easley said. “Although North Korea has no intention of giving up nuclear weapons, it might try to extract payment for acting like a so-called responsible nuclear power.”

Kim has been focusing on modernizing his nuclear arsenal since his diplomacy with Trump broke down in 2019 due to wrangling over how much sanctions relief the North could get for a partial surrender of its nuclear program. Experts say Kim likely thinks that Trump, if elected for a second term, could make concessions as the U.S. is preoccupied with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas fighting.

Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea, said if President Joe Biden is reelected, North Korea won’t get what it wants. But he predicted a Trump win could revive diplomacy, saying Trump will likely say during his campaign that he can convince North Korea to suspend intimidating weapons tests.

He said Kim’s vow to ramp up production of plutonium and uranium is meant to strengthen his negotiating cards. Nam said North Korea will also test-launch more intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the continental U.S. this year.

“North Korea will act to the fullest extent under its timetable for provocation until the U.S. election day,” Nam said.

During his speech at the party meeting, Kim used bellicose, derisive rhetoric against South Korea, calling it “a hemiplegic malformation and colonial subordinate state” whose society is “tainted by Yankee culture.” He said South Korea must not be considered as a partner for reconciliation or unification. He ordered the military to use all available means including nuclear weapons to conquer South Korea in the event of a conflict.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry responded by strongly condemning North Korea for pushing to advance its nuclear program and displaying hostility toward its neighbors. A statement said South Korea will try to overwhelmingly deter North Korean threats based on a solid alliance with the United States.

Some analysts have speculated that limited clashes between the Koreas along their tense border could happen in the coming year. South Korea’s spy agency said last week that North Korea will likely launch military provocations and cyberattacks ahead of South Korean parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November.

Kim also maintained that North Korea must solidify cooperation with “anti-imperialist, independent” countries that he said oppose U.S.-led Western hegemony.

Kim didn’t name the countries. But North Korea has been seeking to beef up its cooperation with Russia and China, which have repeatedly blocked attempts by the U.S. and its partners to toughen U.N. sanctions on the North over its banned missile tests. The U.S. and South Korea accuse North Korea of supplying artillery and ammunition to Russia in return for high-tech Russian technologies for its own military programs.

Julianne Smith, U.S. permanent representative to NATO, said earlier this month the U.S. assessed that the suspected Russian technologies North Korea seeks are related to fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, ballistic missile production equipment or materials of that kind. Smith said U.S. intelligence indicates that North Korea had provided Russia with more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions.

South Korean officials said Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put its spy satellite into orbit for the first time on Nov. 21. Many foreign experts are skeptical about the satellite’s ability but South Korean Defense Minister Shin Wonsik said in November that Russia could help North Korea produce higher-resolution satellite photos.

Yang Uk, an analyst at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that he believes North Korea hasn’t yet obtained functioning ICBMs that can launch nuclear strikes on the continental U.S. But he said North Korea’s shorter-range nuclear-armed missiles can reach South Korea and Japan, where a total of 80,000 American troops are stationed.

Estimates on the size of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal vary, ranging from 20-30 bombs to more than 100. The U.N. atomic agency and foreign experts recently said North Korea appears to have started operating a light-water reactor at its main nuclear complex in a possible attempt to secure a new source for weapons-grade plutonium.

Meanwhile, Kim said during the meeting that North Korea made “eye-opening” economic achievements by fulfilling or exceeding set quotas in major areas such as farming, housing construction and fisheries. Nam, the professor, said the self-praise appears aimed at burnishing Kim’s image as a leader who cares about public livelihoods as well as military issues.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
New Yorker Brian Tarrence goes missing while on romantic vacation in Turks and Caicos with wife

New Yorker Brian Tarrence disappears during romantic getaway in Turks and Caicos with his wife

A Manhattan man has vanished in Turks and Caicos after he bizarrely…

Historic Footage of Notorious ‘Mosul Orb’ UFO Released as US Spy Cameras Capture Enigmatic Object Hovering Over Iraq

THE first ever bombshell footage of the infamous “Mosul orb” UFO captured…
Lawsuit says Trump's immigration crackdown has put LA 'under siege' in defiance of federal law

Lawsuit Claims Trump’s Immigration Policies Have Left Los Angeles ‘Under Siege,’ Violating Federal Law

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses President Donald…
'Project Runway' Season 20 returns July 31 with Heidi Klum, Law Roach & 12 designers competing

‘Project Runway’ Season 20: Heidi Klum, Law Roach, and 12 Designers Set to Compete on July 31

The fashion competition returns with Heidi Klum, Law Roach, and more of…
JSO: Man found dead with 'multiple' blunt-force injuries at Jacksonville apartment complex

JSO: Man Discovered Deceased with Severe Blunt-Force Injuries at Jacksonville Apartment Community

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says multiple people were detained when officers responded…
Port Authority Bus Terminal entrance in New York City.

Port Authority Bus Accident Injures 12; Driver Freed from Wreckage, Terminal Closure Causes Delays

AT least 12 people have been hurt in a massive multi-bus crash…
Small plane goes down at New Jersey airport in 'mass casualty' emergency

Small Aircraft Crash at New Jersey Airport Results in ‘Mass Casualty’ Situation

A skydiving airplane crashed Wednesday after it went off the end of…
Bryan Kohberger allegedly searched pictures of female students, some were close to alleged victims

Timeline of Idaho Murders: Bryan Kohberger’s Plea Marks the End of a Lengthy Justice Pursuit

BOISE, Idaho – The longstanding University of Idaho homicide case has taken…
Politicians, pastors protest downtown Chicago as House gears up to vote on Trump's 'big beautiful bill,' citing Medicaid cut fears

Politicians and Pastors Protest in Downtown Chicago Over Concerns of Medicaid Cuts in Upcoming House Vote on Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”

CHICAGO (WLS) — Protesters in Chicago gathered on Wednesday to express their…
'Lilo & Stitch' inches closer to $1 billion at the box office!

‘Lilo & Stitch’ Nears $1 Billion Milestone at the Box Office!

Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” has been a massive hit and continues to…
Honolulu water board sues Navy for $1.2B over fuel leak that contaminated drinking water

Honolulu Water Authority Files $1.2 Billion Lawsuit Against Navy Over Fuel Leak Contaminating Drinking Water

On Tuesday, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) initiated a federal…
Federal judge orders Mexican migrant seeking asylum to be released by ICE

U.S. Judge Mandates ICE to Release Mexican Asylum Seeker

A federal judge in Oregon has mandated the immediate release of a…