World
Rocket man Kim declares North Korea a world nuclear power
By Jake Beardslee · September 28, 2023
In brief…
- Kim Jong Un demanded boosting North Korea's nuclear arsenal and production.
- North Korea's parliament enshrined the hermit kingdoms's nuclear status in its constitution.
- Kim said nuclear weapons are needed to counter threats from the U.S. and its allies.
- The move vastly dims any prospect for denuclearization negotiations.
- This follows Kim's recent meeting with Russian President Putin, which has sparked concerns over a potential arms alliance between the two rogue nations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for vastly increasing the country’s nuclear weapons capabilities, according to state media reports from Pyongyang.
Speaking at a session of North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, Kim demanded an “exponential” boost in the production of modern atomic weapons, declaring the country a nuclear power.
The session also enshrined North Korea’s nuclear weapons status in the country’s constitution, following Kim’s declaration last year that the country is an “irreversible” nuclear state.
Kim said nuclear weapons are necessary to counter an existential threat he insists is posed by the United States and its allies. He described the enhanced trilateral security cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo as the “worst actual threat” and the “Asian version of NATO.”
Kim stressed the need to “accelerate the modernization of nuclear weapons” and to boost their production.
The parliament unanimously approved adding language to the constitution aimed at protecting the country’s nuclear weapons capabilities. Experts said this significantly diminishes any prospect of denuclearization talks ever succeeding.
The moves follow a recent trip by Kim to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has sparked concerns over a potential arms alliance between the two rogue nations.
Kim has called for North Korea to join a united front with Russia and China against the U.S. in a “new Cold War.”
North Korea has conducted a record number of missile tests this year, including claimed tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The U.S., South Korea and Japan have ramped up joint military exercises in response.