Kim Jong Un Threatens Nuclear Strike as Tensions with South Korea and US Escalate
North Korea’s Kim Again Threatens to Use Nuclear Weapons Against South Korea and US
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his threats to employ nuclear weapons in potential conflicts with South Korea and the United States, accusing both nations of provoking North Korea and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as reported by state media on Tuesday.
Kim has made similar threats regarding the preemptive use of nuclear weapons on numerous occasions. However, this latest warning comes at a time when outside experts suggest that North Korea could intensify hostilities ahead of next month’s U.S. presidential election.
In a speech delivered on Monday at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense, Kim declared that North Korea “will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities against its enemies” should they attempt to use armed forces against North Korea, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He further asserted, “The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case.”
Kim emphasized the necessity for North Korea to fully enhance its nuclear response posture. He pointed to efforts by South Korea and the United States to strengthen their military alliance through joint nuclear and strategic planning, which he claimed would increase the risk of disrupting the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula.
This statement appears to reference the new South Korea-U.S. deterrence guideline signed in July, which aims to integrate South Korean conventional capabilities with U.S. nuclear weapons to better address North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats. Notably, South Korea does not possess its own nuclear weapons.
Since adopting an aggressive nuclear doctrine in 2022, North Korea has repeatedly vowed to use nuclear weapons first if it perceives its leadership in Pyongyang to be under threat. However, many experts remain skeptical about North Korea’s ability to follow through on such threats, given that its military is significantly outgunned by U.S. and South Korean forces. U.S. and South Korean officials have warned that any attempt by North Korea to use nuclear weapons would lead to the end of the Kim government.
Recent weeks have seen heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has unveiled a facility for producing weapons-grade uranium and has continued its series of missile tests. In recent responses to questions from The Associated Press, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that North Korea’s disclosure of the nuclear site was likely an attempt to capture U.S. attention ahead of the upcoming presidential election. He predicted that North Korea would likely engage in major provocations, such as a nuclear test explosion and a long-range missile test.
Analysts believe that North Korea will likely use its expanded nuclear arsenal to seek concessions from the U.S., such as sanctions relief, following the inauguration of a new U.S. administration.
Earlier, North Korea announced that its rubber-stamp parliament was set to meet on October 7. However, as of Tuesday, state media had not confirmed whether the parliament meeting began as scheduled.
Observers speculate that the parliament meeting was intended to constitutionally declare a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula, formally rejecting reconciliation with South Korea and establishing new national borders. In January, Kim ordered the rewriting of the constitution to remove the long-standing state goal of peaceful Korean unification, instead cementing South Korea as an “invariable principal enemy.”
All exchange and cooperation programs between the two Koreas have remained dormant since broader U.S.-North Korea diplomacy on the North’s nuclear program collapsed in 2019.
Since late May, North Korea has also revived a Cold War-style psychological campaign by floating thousands of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea. On Tuesday, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea was once again launching such balloons across the border.
The continued hostile rhetoric and actions from North Korea underscore the fragile and tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. Kim’s latest threats highlight the ongoing challenges faced by both South Korea and the United States in managing North Korea’s aggressive posturing and its growing nuclear capabilities. With the U.S. presidential election on the horizon, the international community watches closely, concerned about potential escalations and the broader implications for regional and global security.