North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a warning, stating that the country would not hesitate to use its full range of offensive capabilities, including nuclear weapons, if external forces threaten its sovereignty. The warning, reported by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA on Friday, came after escalating tensions between North and South Korea.
Kim's comments were aimed at South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had earlier made a bold statement during a military event, suggesting that the North Korean regime could be brought to an end if it resorted to using nuclear weapons. This remark gathered criticism from Kim, who described Yoon’s rhetoric as reckless and "ironic," especially considering that North Korea is already a nuclear-armed state. Kim went as far as to question Yoon’s judgment, calling him "abnormal" for making such provocative statements.
According to KCNA, Kim was clear in his message: if any enemy, driven by what he called "foolishness and recklessness," tried to violate North Korea’s sovereignty using military force, the country would respond with everything it had, including nuclear weapons. He emphasized that North Korea’s nuclear capabilities were not going anywhere, regardless of external pressure or threats.
Kim made these comments during a visit to a military training base for North Korea’s special operations forces on Wednesday. The message shows North Korea’s stance on its nuclear weapons program, which it has maintained for decades. The country is believed to have developed enough nuclear materials to build dozens of weapons and has already conducted six underground nuclear tests.
This exchange comes at a time when South Korea is flexing its military muscle. On Tuesday, South Korea held its annual Armed Forces Day celebrations, showcasing a ballistic missile capable of carrying a large warhead, alongside a U.S. bomber flyover. During the event, President Yoon warned Pyongyang that any nuclear attack would be met with a “resolute and overwhelming response” from both South Korea and its ally, the United States. He even went as far as to say that such a move by North Korea would lead to the regime's collapse.
Kim, however, dismissed these threats, insisting that North Korea’s military strength remains firm and that its nuclear weapons would never cease.
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