In a recent warning, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reiterated his potential use of nuclear weapons in conflicts with South Korea and the United States, accusing them of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. This statement, reported by state media, follows a series of similar threats made by Kim in the past.
Speaking at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense, he declared that North Korea “will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities against its enemies” if they attempt any military action against the North. He emphasized that the possibility of using nuclear weapons is not off the table, reflecting the country’s increasingly aggressive nuclear posture established in 2022.
Kim criticized the recent strengthening of military alliances between South Korea and the U.S., including new deterrence guidelines aimed at countering North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats. Despite Kim’s rhetoric, experts express skepticism about North Korea’s capability to use nuclear weapons effectively, given the military superiority of U.S. and South Korean forces. Officials from both countries have warned that any nuclear action by North Korea would likely lead to the downfall of Kim’s regime.
Recent developments have heightened tensions in the region, with North Korea unveiling a facility for producing weapons-grade uranium and conducting multiple missile tests. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested that North Korea’s nuclear disclosures are designed to attract U.S. attention ahead of the upcoming presidential election, hinting at potential provocations like nuclear tests or long-range missile launches.
As North Korea’s parliament is set to convene, observers speculate that it may declare a hostile “two-state” system, effectively ending any hopes of reconciliation with South Korea. This marks a significant shift in North Korea’s stance, codifying South Korea as a primary enemy in its constitutional framework.
With diplomatic relations between the U.S. and North Korea at a standstill since 2019, all exchanges and cooperation initiatives between the two Koreas remain inactive. In a continuation of Cold War tactics, North Korea has recently been sending balloons carrying trash into South Korean territory, further escalating psychological tensions in the region.