Kim Jong Un orders military to ‘annihilate’ US and South Korea if they attack North Korea

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 3, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to “thoroughly annihilate” South Korea and the United States if they initiate a military confrontation with North Korea. Kim made these remarks during a meeting with his top military commanders on New Year’s Eve.

While concluding the five-day-long major ruling party meeting in Pyongyang, Kim vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation. The yearend event was arranged to set the policy agenda for 2024.

Kim laid out his military ambitions and plans for the year 2024 as he announced that North Korea will launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear materials, and develop attack drones this year in what observers say is an attempt to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S.

“If the enemy opts for military confrontation and provocation against the DPRK, our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without [a] moment’s hesitation,” Kim said, using the abbreviation of North Korea’s official name.

According to a statement released by the North Korean state-owned media outlet KCNA, Kim said it is urgent to sharpen “the treasured sword” to safeguard national security, an apparent reference to his country’s nuclear weapons program. He said, “The U.S. and other hostile forces’ military confrontation moves” are threatening North Korea’s national security.

North Korea self propelled artillery — ^{Self-propelled artillery roll pass during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s foundation in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 9, 2018. (Image Credit: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)}

In response to Pyongyang’s increasing military threat, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he would strengthen his military’s preemptive strike, missile defense, and retaliatory capabilities in response to the North Korean nuclear threat.

During his New Year’s Day address, the South Korean president assured his people that “The Republic of Korea is building genuine, lasting peace through strength, not a submissive peace that is dependent on the goodwill of the adversary.”

South Korea’s Defense Ministry also released a statement warning North Korea that if any attempts were made to use nuclear weapons, South Korean and U.S. forces would punish it overwhelmingly, resulting in the end of the Kim government.

In recent months, North Korea has intensified its aggression, in reaction to the expansion of military exercises conducted by the U.S. and South Korea. Analysts believe that Kim plans to further elevate both his verbal threats and weapons testing, however, the threat of using nuclear weapons against U.S. or South Korea remains substantially low.

North Korea Hwasong-18 ICBM launch — *^{Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s strategic force conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile “Hwasongpo-18” launch exercise on December 18, 2023. (Image Credit: KCNA)}*

Experts and analysts have also indicated that the recent escalation of Kim is being made under the perception that heightened tensions could potentially be leveraged to extract concessions from the United States, especially if former President Donald Trump secures victory in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.