North Korean chief Kim Jong-un declared his nation will launch three army spy satellites and construct extra nuclear weapons in 2024.
The North Korean chief introduced on Saturday that the “grave state of affairs requires us to speed up works to accumulate overwhelming conflict response capabilities and thorough and ideal army readiness to suppress any forms of provocations by the enemies at a stroke”.
Based on KCNA, Mr Kim, on the finish of the Employees’ Occasion assembly, emphasised the “overwhelming” want for conflict readiness amid rising tensions with the US and its allies.
“Due to reckless strikes by the enemies to invade us, it’s a fait accompli {that a} conflict can escape at any time on the Korean peninsula,” he mentioned.
Unveiling his daring imaginative and prescient for 2024, Mr Kim mentioned he plans to introduce cutting-edge unmanned fight gear corresponding to armed drones and highly effective digital warfare gadgets together with bolstering the nation’s nuclear capabilities.
He criticised the USA and its allies for unprecedented actions, pushing the Korean Peninsula to the verge of nuclear battle.
Mr Kim directed the launch of three extra army spy satellites in 2024, constructing upon the success of the nation’s first reconnaissance satellite tv for pc launched in November.
His assertion to develop North Korea’s nuclear weapons arsenal comes regardless of worldwide stress. In his speech, he ordered the acceleration of nuclear weapons manufacturing and improvement, signalling a continued concentrate on modernising the nation’s nuclear capabilities.
“Primarily based on the expertise of efficiently launching and working the primary reconnaissance satellite tv for pc in 2023, the duty of launching three extra reconnaissance satellites in 2024 was declared to vigorously promote the event of area science and expertise,” the assertion printed by KCNA learn.
Since final 12 months, Mr Kim’s army has test-fired greater than 100 ballistic missiles, a lot of them nuclear-capable weapons, in violation of a UN Safety Council decision that prohibits North Korea from utilizing ballistic missile expertise.
South Korea’s spy company raised alert final week that North Korea can launch army provocations and cyberattacks forward of South Korean parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November.
“Pyongyang may be ready out the US presidential election to see what its provocations should buy it with the following administration,” mentioned Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha College in Seoul.
The North Korean chief additionally introduced that North Korea will now not search reunification with South Korea. He mentioned inter-Korean relations had change into “a relationship between two hostile nations and two belligerents at conflict”.
“It’s time for us to acknowledge the fact and make clear our relationship with the South,” Mr Kim added.
Further reporting with companies