SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to expand his nuclear arsenal when he unveiled a list of high-tech weapon systems under development, saying the fate of relations with the United States depends on whether it is hostile policies, state media reported Saturday.
Kim’s comments at a key ruling party rally this week were seen as putting pressure on the upcoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden, who has called Kim a “criminal” and criticized his summits with President Donald Trump. .
The Korean Central News Agency quoted Kim as saying, “The key to establishing new relations between (North Korea) and the United States is for the United States to withdraw its hostile policies.”
“This shows that relations between North Korea and the US will not go smoothly for the next four years with Biden in office,” said Nam Sung-wook, a North Korean expert at Korea University in South Korea, adding add that any concessions from Kim were unlikely. .
Kim said he will not use his nuclear arsenal unless “enemy forces” intend to use their nuclear weapons against North Korea first. He also suggested that he is open to dialogue if Washington is too, but stressed that North Korea needs to further strengthen its military and nuclear capabilities to cope with growing hostility from the US.
Kim did not mention any specific American actions. North Korea has previously organized regular US military exercises with South Korea, flights with US surveillance aircraft and the US military presence in South Korea as evidence of hostility. In particular, the North sees the US-South Korean exercises as a rehearsal for an invasion, although the Allies have repeatedly denied that.
Kim listed state-of-the-art weapon systems that he said were in development. They include a multi-warhead missile, underwater-launched nuclear missiles, long-range solid-fueled missiles, and spy satellites. He said North Korea also needs to improve precision attack capability on targets in the 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) attack range, a clear reference to the U.S. mainland, and develop technology to make smaller, lighter nuclear warheads capable of long range be mounted. missiles easier.
“Nothing would be more foolish and dangerous than not tirelessly strengthening our power and taking an easy stance at a time when we clearly see the advanced weapons of the enemy being magnified more than ever,” said Kim. “The reality is that we can achieve peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula if we constantly build our national defenses and suppress US military threats.”
It is unclear whether North Korea is capable of developing such systems. It is one of the world’s most isolated countries and estimates of the exact status of its nuclear and missile programs vary widely. In 2018, the South Korean government said North Korea has an estimated 60 nuclear weapons.
“What they want to tell the US is that we are developing the new strategic weapons that you can consider the most intimidating. Do you want to come to the negotiating table? Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said, “While Kim leaves the door open for talks, he still sends a message to Biden that he is not an easy (dialogue) partner.”
The congress of the ruling party met for the first time in five years. KCNA said Kim spoke for nine hours during his discussion of party projects Tuesday through Thursday.
Congress is the Workers’ Party’s main decision-making body, and it is held as Kim faces what appears to be the most difficult moment of his nine-year reign due to the triple blow to his already fragile economy – pandemic-related border closures affecting the country’s foreign trade. North have sharply reduced a wave of natural disasters last summer and US-led sanctions.
During his opening day speech, Kim called the difficulties the “worst ever” and “unprecedented.” He also admitted that his previous economic plans had failed and pledged to adopt a new five-year development plan.
Since taking power in late 2011, Kim, who turned 37 on Friday, has pursued so-called ‘byungjin’ policies to simultaneously pursue economic growth and expand his nuclear deterrent.
After a scorching series of weapons tests in 2016-17, Kim claimed to have acquired the ability to attack the U.S. mainland with nuclear missiles. The weapons tests led to new rounds of crippling US-led sanctions, including a ban on key exports such as coal, seafood and textiles and a significant restriction on oil imports.
In 2018, Kim abruptly started talking to Trump about nuclear disarmament, aiming to lift sanctions without completely giving up on his nuclear program. But their diplomacy broke at the second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in early 2019, when Trump turned down Kim’s request for widespread sanctions relief in exchange for decommissioning his main nuclear complex, amounting to a limited denuclearization move.
Kim has since vowed openly to build up his nuclear capability.
Biden, who will take office on Jan. 20, is unlikely to hold direct meetings with Kim unless the North Korean leader takes major denuclearization steps.