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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced his intention to “strengthen and develop” his country’s nuclear arsenal during a speech on the occasion of an anniversary and military parade in Pyongyang, the country’s official KCNA news agency reported today.
“We will continue to take steps to strengthen and develop our country’s nuclear capabilities at a faster pace,” Kim said, according to the agency.
The parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army, the North Korean Armed Forces, featured intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in particular.
The head of state delivered his speech in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang.
The country is facing severe international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programs.
Negotiations to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its arsenal have been deadlocked for years.
Yesterday, Kim Jong Un said that his country’s nuclear weapons are “a symbol of its power” and should be diversified.
“Given the turbulent political and military background and the various crises to come (…) we must further increase our strength as quickly as possible”, he insisted.
He added that although his country’s nuclear weapons have a primary deterrent role, they could be used if North Korea’s “fundamental interests” are threatened.
Experts expected that this parade would showcase North Korea’s most advanced weapons, in particular supersonic missiles and the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.
The latter, a “monster rocket” as some observers call it, can carry multiple nuclear warheads capable of moving in multiple orbits after re-entering the atmosphere, and was first introduced in October 2020.
The KCNA reported that Hwasong-17, whom Pyongyang claims to have successfully tested on March 24, actually showed up at the parade. However, the agency did not broadcast photos of her.
