North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned today that Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if provoked by an enemy with nuclear weapons, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim made this statement during a meeting with soldiers from the army's missile command, congratulating them on North Korea's latest intercontinental ballistic missile test.
The report stated, "Kim said that the resolute military activity conducted by the command this time was a clear interpretation of the offensive response method and the development of the nuclear strategy and doctrine of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which involves not hesitating to carry out a nuclear attack even if provoked by an enemy with nuclear weapons."
This week, North Korea announced that it tested its latest intercontinental ballistic missile on Monday to assess its nuclear forces' combat readiness amid growing U.S. hostility. High-ranking diplomats from the United States, South Korea, and Japan issued a joint statement yesterday condemning North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and urging Pyongyang to engage in "substantive dialogue without preconditions."
Kim stated that the test demonstrated the army’s high capability for rapid movement and attack, calling for efforts to enhance the missile's combat effectiveness, as reported by the agency.
In a separate statement, Kim Yo Jong, Kim's sister, condemned the United Nations Security Council for holding a meeting regarding the missile launch, claiming it was an exercise of the country's right to self-defense. She said, "The Security Council should place significant responsibility on the irresponsible actions of the United States and South Korea, which have exacerbated tensions on the Korean Peninsula through all kinds of military provocations over the past year."
The United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted a joint air drill yesterday that included a U.S. strategic bomber near the Korean Peninsula, representing the latest strategic asset deployed by Washington as part of its commitment to bolster South Korea's defense readiness.
