SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delivered a speech advocating for the bolstering of the country’s naval capabilities, citing concerns about the instability of waters surrounding the Korean peninsula and the potential for nuclear conflict.
The state media outlet KCNA reported on Tuesday that Kim’s remarks centred on the perceived role of the United States in contributing to the volatile situation.
Addressing the occasion of Navy Day, Kim expressed his viewpoint that the United States, along with Japan and South Korea, have engaged in a series of joint military exercises, a reference to the trilateral summit held on August 18th at Camp David, Maryland. This summit marked the first standalone meeting between the leaders of these three nations, resulting in an agreement to deepen both military and economic cooperation. The objective of this partnership is to present a united front in response to China’s expanding influence and North Korea’s nuclear-related provocations.
Attributing the current state of instability to the actions of what he termed the “gang bosses” of these nations, Kim highlighted the heightened military concentration and the looming spectre of nuclear conflict that characterizes the waters around the Korean peninsula. He expressed his concerns about these waters evolving into a hotspot of global military tension due to what he described as “reckless confrontational moves of the US and other hostile forces.”
Against this backdrop, South Korea and the United States recently initiated the Ulchi Freedom Shield summer exercises, designed to refine their cooperative strategies for countering North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. These joint drills have been a recurring source of contention, as Pyongyang views them as rehearsals for potential warfare.
Kim Jong-un emphasized the necessity for North Korea’s Navy to maintain a state of constant readiness and vigilance, requiring them to “radically” upgrade their weaponry and equipment. He underlined the role of the country’s navy as a component of its overall state nuclear deterrence strategy.
