North Korea: Kim Jong-un, the “monster missile” and his daughter

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un walks with his daughter in front of the new "Hwasong 17" missile on November 18, 2022 in Pyongyang.

Photo courtesy of KCNA Official Agency.

AFP-STR

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Respond to US nuclear threats with its own nuclear weapons.

This is in short the message sent by Kim Jong-un in the state media this Saturday, November 19.

The North Korean leader supervised the intercontinental ballistic missile launch the day before.

Pyongyang says this is the first successful test of the

Hwasong 17

, dubbed the "monster missile".

A new offensive exit from Kim Jong-un, in a tense context on the Korean peninsula.

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With our correspondent in Seoul,

Nicolas Rocca

If firing a ballistic missile capable of hitting Washington or New York hadn't been enough, Kim Jong-un's message to North Korean state media is even clearer.

Pyongyang “ 

will resolutely respond to nuclear weapons with nuclear weapons and to all-out confrontation with merciless confrontation 

,” the North Korean leader promised during the

Hwasong 17

test .

Outstanding

The firing of this extraordinary missile by its size and its ability to carry several nuclear warheads is a technical feat for the "hermit kingdom".

But experts doubt its practical use in the event of a conflict.

Despite everything, it remains a prestigious success for Kim Jong-un who attended the trial with his family accompanied by his wife and daughter.

The symbolism of the child

This is the first child he officially presents to the public.

And for this first family outing, photos of his daughter holding her father's hand in front of a ballistic missile were published in state media.

A symbolic choice given the dynastic dimension of the regime.

According to Pyongyang, this new show of force sequence comes in response to statements by the United States and its allies evoking the strengthening of the American military presence in the region.

A strategy that is likely to be accentuated in the face of the recent outings of the North Korean leader.

►Also read

: North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile

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  • North Korea

  • Kim Jong Un

  • South Korea

  • Nuclear

  • Defense