North Korea threatens to use nuclear weapons against the U.S and South Korea

Every 27th of July, North Korea celebrates the end of the Korean war. That day is known as victory day in Pyongyang. Despite the various challenges facing the Country, it did not fail to mark the anniversary this year.

The country’s leader, Kim Jung un, while delivering his speech, said North Korea was ready to withstand either the U.S military or that of South Korea, even if it means using nuclear weapons.

“Our armed forces are thoroughly prepared to respond to any crisis, and our nation’s nuclear war deterrence is also fully ready to mobilise its absolute strength faithfully, accurately, and promptly to its mission,” he said.

In recent times, Pyongyang has increased the test of missiles as a message to both the United States and South Korea. On the other hand, the United States and South Korea have attempted to denuclearize North Korea. Failure by the U.S to achieve this through diplomacy has caused the leading world power to increase its military presence in South Korea to achieve the goal militarily.

During the Supreme Leader’s speech, he said it was hypocritical on the part of the U.S to hold large-scale joint military exercises close to the country and then label his country as a threat.

“The duplex act of the United States, which is misleading all the routine actions of our armed forces as ‘provocation’ and ‘threat’ while holding large-scale joint military exercises that seriously threaten our security, is literally a robbery,” Kim said. “That is driving bilateral relations to the point where it is difficult to turn back, into a state of conflict.”

The North Korean leader said the country was fully prepared to face the South Korean government if there is any attempt to neutralize or destroy part of the country’s military.

“If you think you can counter us militarily and preemptively neutralize or destroy part of our military power,” Kim Jung un said. “Such a dangerous attempt will immediately be punished by a powerful force, and Yoon Suk-yeol’s government and his army will be annihilated.”

The Supreme leader did not end his speech without mentioning South Korea’s strongest ally, the United States. He reiterated his country’s commitment and readiness to confront Washington if necessary.

“I once again make it clear that North Korea is fully ready for any military confrontation with the United States,” Kim said.

Many analysts believe that the words of the supreme leader were meant to create fear and the country does not have the military capability to withstand the U.S.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, described the speech as a way to “bolster national pride.”

“Kim’s rhetoric inflates external threats to justify his militarily focused and economically struggling regime. North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are in violation of international law, but Kim tries to depict his destabilizing arms buildup as a righteous effort at self-defense,” he said in an email and reported by Aljazeera.

Although the military capability of Pyongyang is in doubt, one cannot dismiss the country’s willingness to defend itself. With the growing relations between foes of the U.S, including Russia and China, one would expect North Korea to develop stronger ties with them. Such a move would further strengthen the country’s resolve to build more nuclear weapons. No matter what, North Korea is a country to beat.