North Korea vows 'accelerated' nuclear arsenal expansion

State media reported that Kim Jong Un announced plans to significantly increase North Korea's nuclear capabilities on Tuesday. The statement was made during a meeting with senior officials on the occasion of the state's 76th anniversary of establishment. A few days earlier, Pyongyang also unveiled a new mobile rocket launcher.

According to the leader's statement, North Korea faces the necessity of strengthening its nuclear arsenal in response to the "serious threat from the United States and its followers," resulting from the "reckless expansion" of the military alliance in the region. This information was reported by the state news agency KCNA.

During his speech on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the state, Kim Jong Un stated that North Korea "will continually strengthen its nuclear forces, capable of confronting any threats from nuclear-armed rivals and will double its resources and efforts to ensure that all of the state's armed forces, including nuclear forces, are fully combat-ready."

According to Kim Jong Un's announcements, the development of the nuclear arsenal is to be "accelerated and continuous." As noted by the South Korean Yonhap agency, the leader "did not set a limit to achieving this goal."

AFP reminds us that Pyongyang had previously announced an "exponential increase" in nuclear capabilities, and important state anniversaries have often been an occasion to demonstrate strength and showcase progress in this area.

Last Sunday, the state agency KCNA published a photo of Kim inspecting a new TEL (Transporter-Erector-Launcher) rocket launcher, equipped with 12 axles, allowing for the transport, positioning, and launching of the rocket. This sparked speculation that North Korea might use this vehicle to launch a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

South Korean and U.S. intelligence services are closely monitoring North Korea's activities concerning weapon development, reported a military official on Monday, quoted by the Yonhap agency.

Since 2022, North Korea has significantly increased the number of weapon tests, aiming to achieve the capability to carry out attacks on the United States and South Korea. In response, Washington and Seoul have intensified their military exercises, which Pyongyang describes as invasion attempts.

Current relations between the two Koreas are assessed as the worst in decades. Formally, North and South Korea have been in a state of war for over 70 years, as the armed conflict from 1950-1953 ended with the signing of an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Thus, the Korean Peninsula remains one of the most unstable regions in the world. The escalation of armament and the lack of dialogue between the North and the South only deepen this state. North Korea's actions and international reactions will have a crucial impact on the future security of the region.