North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended the year with fresh threats of a nuclear attack on Seoul and orders for a military arsenal build-up to prepare for a potential war on the peninsula, according to state media reports on Sunday.
During a lengthy speech at the end of a five-day party meeting, Kim criticized the United States and announced plans for further military development in the coming year, including launching more spy satellites, building unmanned drones, and strengthening nuclear and missile forces.
Kim accused the United States of posing military threats and ordered his armed forces to maintain the capability for overwhelming war response. The meeting concluded that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula at any time due to the enemies’ reckless moves.
Kim also stated that he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, and ordered the reorganization of departments handling cross-border affairs.
The emphasis on North Korea’s military capabilities was likely aimed at hiding its poor economic achievements this year, according to a professor of international relations.
Pyongyang has declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power and has repeatedly stated that it will never give up its nuclear weapons program, despite numerous UN resolutions calling for it to halt these programs.