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In recent months, North Korea has increased bellicose rhetoric in response to military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his military "must completely annihilate" the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported on January 1, as he vowed to strengthen national defense to face what he called an unprecedented US-led confrontation.
In recent months, North Korea has increased bellicose rhetoric in response to military exercises conducted by the US and South Korea. Experts expect Kim to continue escalating the rhetoric and weapons tests because he likely believes that taking advantage of the situation when tensions are high with the US could result in concessions from Washington if the former US president, Donald Trump wins the US presidential election to be held in November.
During a five-day meeting of the ruling party, Kim said he will launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear material and develop more attack drones this year. Observers said these are efforts by the North Korean leader to extract more concessions during future diplomatic talks with the US.
During a meeting with the military, Kim said "our military must be able to deliver a blow of total annihilation, mobilizing our most powerful means" if the country faces confrontation or provocation, state media KCNA reported.
During his New Year's address, South Korean President Zoon Suk Yeol said on Monday that he will strengthen his military's deterrence capability, the ability to carry out retaliatory and defensive strikes due to the nuclear threat from North Korea.
Meanwhile, after Kim's speech, South Korea's Defense Ministry warned against any attempt by the North to use nuclear weapons. This ministry said that the forces of South Korea and the US would respond to these efforts that would result in the end of the Kim Government.
Experts have said that small-scale military clashes between North and South Korea could occur this year along the border between the two countries. They have said they expect the North to conduct tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach US soil, but also tests of other new weapons.
Since 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 missile tests, prompting the US and South Korea to expand joint military exercises. The North has also sought to strengthen relations with China and Russia, two countries that have blocked US efforts at the United Nations Security Council to toughen sanctions on North Korea over its weapons tests.
Estimates of the size of North Korea's nuclear arsenal range from 20-30 bombs to as many as 100. Many foreign experts have said that North Korea has the technology to produce long-range nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles, although long-range missiles short action that it has, can reach South Korea and Japan./ REL
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