Kim: North Korea is ready to deploy nuclear deterrent forces

Kim criticizes the new South Korean president for the first time.

AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country is ready to deploy nuclear deterrence forces and face any military clash with the United States, and criticized the new South Korean president for the first time, warning that Seoul is pushing matters to the brink of war.

Yesterday, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim made the remarks during a speech on the 69th anniversary of the armistice in the Korean War on July 27, which means that the two Koreas are still effectively at war.

Kim said the confrontation with the United States posed nuclear threats, since the conflict meant North Korea had to fulfill an "urgent historic mission" of strengthening its self-defense.

"Our armed forces are fully prepared to deal with any crisis, and our nuclear deterrent forces are fully prepared to deploy their sheer force to carry out their mission faithfully, accurately and immediately," he added.

Kim criticized neo-conservative South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, mentioning him by name for the first time, accusing him of threatening North Korea's security and right to defend itself.

In his speech, Kim said that South Korea's attempts to preemptively impede North Korea would be met with a tough response.

"I say again clearly that North Korea is fully prepared for any military confrontation with the United States," he added.

Yun's office expressed deep regret over Kim's "threatening" remarks, saying that South Korea is able to respond "forcefully and effectively" to any provocations at any time.

"We once again urge North Korea to take the path of dialogue to achieve denuclearization and peace," Yoon's spokeswoman Kang In Sun said at a press briefing.

Kim's speech came after officials in Seoul and Washington said Pyongyang had finished preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.

South Korea's Unification Ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs, said on Tuesday there was a "possibility" that the test would take place on the anniversary date, though military officials said there were no immediate indications.

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