North Korean leader Kim Jong-un officially called South Korea the “most hostile state” and warned it of consequences in case of provocations against the DPRK. North Korean state media reported on Tuesday. TASR writes about it with reference to the Jonhap agency.
- Kim Jong-un called South Korea the most hostile country in the world.
- North Korea has warned South Korea of harsh retaliation for any provocations.
- Kim announced the further expansion and strengthening of the country’s self-defense nuclear deterrent potential.
- Pyongyang has promised full readiness of nuclear forces against strategic threats from adversaries.
- The North Korean parliament has re-elected Kim Jong Un as chairman of the State Council.
“We will officially designate South Korea as the most hostile state,” quoted the KCNA agency from Kim’s speech during the second and final day of the Supreme People’s Assembly session. Kim stated that South Korea will pay for any provocation against PyongyangKCNA added.
In an extensive political report, which was reported by the official KCNA agency, Kim covered a wide range of topics – from nuclear weapons and defense policy to economic goals and relations with South Korea and the United States.
“In accordance with the mission entrusted by the constitution of the republic, we will further expand and strengthen our self-defense nuclear deterrent potential,” Kim said in reference to nuclear weapons. According to him, the effort to expand the nuclear arsenal of the DPRK in order to consolidate the status of a nuclear power is “fully justified”.
He added that the DPRK will ensure the full readiness of its nuclear forces to face “strategic threats”. Kim also spoke harshly about South Korea, which he described as the “most hostile country”. He declared that Pyongyang would “mercilessly make South Korea pay – without consideration or hesitation – for any act that interferes with the rights of our republic.”
Kim is the representative of the third generation of the ruling dynasty in North Korea, which was founded in 1948 by his grandfather Kim Il-sung. He has led the country since the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011.
North Korea’s parliament re-elected Kim as chairman of the State Council. KCNA it did not say whether this decision was taken unanimously or with dissent. Critics say that North Korea’s elections are premeditated and designed to provide the country’s leadership with the appearance of democratic legitimacy.
