According to reports from state media on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that Pyongyang would not hesitate to initiate a nuclear attack in response to enemy provocation with nuclear weapons.
Kim made this statement during a meeting with soldiers from the military’s missile bureau following a recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launching drill, as reported by KCNA news agency.
“He (Kim) said that the resolute military activity conducted by the company this time … was … a clear explanation of the offensive counteraction mode and the evolution of the nuclear strategy and doctrine of the DPRK not to hesitate even a nuclear attack when the enemy provoke it with nukes,” KCNA reported.
DPRK are the initials of the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
North Korea announced on Tuesday that it had tested its newest ICBM on Monday to assess the readiness of its nuclear force in the face of increasing U.S. hostility, eliciting condemnation from the United States and its allies.
According to KCNA, Kim stated that Monday’s launch showcased the military’s high mobility and rapid attack capability, and urged for efforts to further strengthen its combat efficiency.
In a separate statement, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for convening a meeting to discuss its ICBM launch, asserting that it was within the country’s right to self-defense.
“The UNSC should place heavy responsibility on the irresponsible behavior and act of the U.S. and the ROK, which have aggravated the tension on the Korean peninsula through all sorts of military provocations all year round,” she said.
ROK stands for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.
(Reporting by Soo-hyang ChoiEditing by Chris Reese and Sandra Maler)
