Kim Jong Un threatens nuclear strike if sovereignty violated
Photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (kremlin.ru)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced the country's intention to employ all available weaponry, including nuclear arms, in the event of any encroachment on the nation's sovereignty by adversaries, according to Reuters.
The leader of North Korea criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for recent threats made during a military event to end the North Korean regime.
According to Kim Jong Un, the South Korean president "bragged about overwhelming counteraction of military muscle at the doorstep of the state possessed of nuclear weapons."
"He affirmed that if the enemy, seized with extreme foolishness and recklessness, attempt to use armed forces encroaching upon the sovereignty of the DPRK ... the DPRK would use without hesitation all the offensive forces it has possessed, including nuclear weapons," KCNA added.
North Korean media also reported that the country's leader made this statement on Wednesday at an army training base for special operations units.
What preceded
The day prior, on Tuesday, South Korea marked its annual Armed Forces Day with a military parade that showcased a ballistic missile capable of carrying a massive warhead, along with an overflight by an American bomber.
In his speech, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Pyongyang against using nuclear weapons, stating that such an action would meet "a resolute, overwhelming response from our military and the US alliance." He added, "That day will see the end of the North Korean regime."
DPRK's nuclear weapons efforts and threats
It is noteworthy that North Korea has been pursuing a nuclear weapons program for decades. According to Western media reports, the country has conducted at least six underground nuclear tests.
For example, on September 10, it was reported that Kim Jong Un spoke about increasing the number of nuclear bombs in geometric progression.
Additionally, at the end of September, North Korea decided to play into Russian leader Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats. The country stated that US military aid to Ukraine amounting to $8 billion constitutes an incredible mistake and a game of fire against a nuclear state like Russia.
It is also important to recall that during the summer, officials in Seoul indicated that North Korea might conduct nuclear tests ahead of the presidential elections in the United States.
