North Korea Kim Calls for "Accelerated" War Preparations

Defense News ,North Korea :- In a recent development, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an expedited readiness in various sectors, including nuclear weapons and civil defense, according to state media reports on Thursday. Just a week ago, Kim issued a stark warning, stating that Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if provoked with nuclear weapons.

These statements were made during the ongoing year-end party meeting in North Korea, where Kim is expected to unveil key policy decisions for 2024. Emphasizing the "extreme" military situation on the Korean peninsula due to unprecedented anti-North confrontations with Washington, Kim urged his party to speed up war preparations.

The heightened tensions in the region have seen increased defense cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. The three nations activated a system to share real-time data on North Korean missile launches, and recently, a US nuclear-powered submarine docked in the South Korean port city of Busan. Additionally, joint drills involving long-range bombers were conducted with Seoul and Tokyo.

North Korea has deemed the participation of US strategic assets in joint drills as "intentional nuclear war provocative moves of the US." Despite international concerns, Pyongyang has achieved significant milestones this year, including the successful launch of a reconnaissance satellite, constitutional recognition as a nuclear power, and the test-firing of its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile.

Kim, defining 2023 as a "year of great turn and great change," celebrated what he called "eye-opening victories" earlier this week. However, the United Nations atomic agency reported that a second reactor at North Korea Yongbyon nuclear facility appeared operational, describing it as "deeply regrettable."

Experts, including defector-turned-researcher Ahn Chan-il, predict that North Korea is likely to deploy tactical nuclear weapons near the inter-Korean border in the coming year. This move aims to exert significant pressure on South Korea and the United States while maintaining close ties with traditional allies Russia and China.

The international community, particularly the United States and South Korea, remains vigilant. The recent Nuclear Consultative Group meeting discussed nuclear deterrence options in case of conflict with North Korea. Any nuclear attack from Pyongyang on the United States or South Korea is warned to result in the end of the Kim regime. North Korea, having declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, continues to defy UN resolutions calling for a halt to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs since its first nuclear test in 2006.