North Korea's Kim Jong Un threatens to destroy the South with nuclear weapons if provoked
North Korean Leader Issues Nuclear Threat Against South Korea #
Tensions have escalated on the Korean Peninsula following a series of provocative statements and military displays from both North and South Korea.
The North Korean leader threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea if attacked, according to state media reports. This statement came after South Korea’s president warned that North Korea would face regime collapse if it used nuclear weapons.
While such rhetoric is not unprecedented, it comes at a time of heightened tension in the region. Recent images released by North Korean state media showed the leader visiting a uranium enrichment facility, raising concerns about the country’s nuclear capabilities.
During a tour of an army base, the North Korean leader stated that if South Korea were to encroach upon North Korea’s sovereignty, Pyongyang would use all offensive forces at its disposal, including nuclear weapons. He added that in such a scenario, the continued existence of Seoul and South Korea would be impossible.
The hostilities between the two Korean leaders have been intensifying this year, with North Korea appearing to ramp up its nuclear production efforts and strengthen ties with Russia. This has deepened concerns in the West about the isolated nation’s direction.
The North Korean leader’s comments seemed to be a direct response to South Korea’s recent display of its most powerful ballistic missile and other weapons during an Armed Forces Day parade. The South Korean president had showcased these weapons as a deterrent against North Korean threats.
The two Koreas have been separated since the end of the Korean War in 1953, which concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving them technically still at war. While both sides had long pursued the goal of peaceful reunification, North Korea recently announced it would no longer seek this aim, labeling South Korea as its “principal enemy.”
North Korea may soon revoke a key agreement that enshrines the potential for reunification, according to South Korean officials. This decision could be made as early as the upcoming meeting of North Korea’s legislature.
South Korea has also been building up its arsenal in response to potential threats from the North. The South Korean president recently unveiled a ballistic missile reportedly capable of penetrating North Korean underground bunkers. He warned that if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it would face a resolute and overwhelming response from South Korea and its allies.
The situation remains tense, with both sides continuing to build up their military capabilities and exchange heated rhetoric.