(Seoul) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced his intention to “strengthen and develop” his country’s nuclear armament during a speech at a military parade in Pyongyang, reports official media on Tuesday.
Posted at 11:26 p.m.
“We will continue to take steps to strengthen and develop our nation’s nuclear capabilities at an accelerated pace,” said Kim Jong-un, whose remarks were reported by North Korean news agency KCNA.
According to this source, the North Korean leader gave a speech during the military parade which took place on Monday evening in Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, on the occasion of the 90and anniversary of the Korean People’s Army.
The country is under severe international sanctions because of its nuclear and missile programs. Negotiations aimed at convincing the leader to give it up are at a standstill.
On Monday, Kim Jong-un said nuclear weapons are “a symbol of national power” and should be diversified.
“In view of a turbulent political and military context and the various crises to come…we will further increase our power at the fastest pace possible,” he added.
He added that while his country’s nuclear weapons primarily serve a deterrent role, they could be deployed if North Korea’s “fundamental interests” were threatened.
North Korea experts expected the parade to be an opportunity to showcase its most sophisticated weapons, in particular hypersonic ballistic missiles as well as the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.
This “monster missile”, capable of carrying several warheads which follow an independent trajectory when they re-enter the atmosphere, was exhibited for the first time in October 2020, during a military parade in Pyongyang.
The KCNA news agency said the Hwasong-17, which North Korea claims it successfully tested on March 24, was indeed displayed at the parade.
“The spectators let out loud cries of joy, very excited to see the giant intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasongpho-17 which rose into the sky on March 24 to demonstrate to the world the absolute power” of North Korea “and the strategic position of our Republic,” KCNA reported.
The official media had not published images of the parade on Tuesday morning.