North Korea is sending hundreds of nuclear-capable weapons to its border as it refuses to ramp down tensions with the U.S. and the West, state media reported on Monday.
The weapons — 250 tactical ballistic missile launchers — are being delivered to southern North Korea along South Korea’s border, according to KCNA Watch. A ceremony featuring North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un was held on Sunday to celebrate the delivery of the missile launchers.
“We are now witnessing a moment of the course of our state’s defense capability increasing day by day,” Kim said during a speech at the ceremony, according to KCNA Watch. “Those weapons, lining up in columns in front of us, will be transferred to our army now and will play an important military role in the border areas of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”
#NorthKorea‘s border guards have received 250 launcher vehicles for nuclear capable tactical ballistic missiles – A massive number!
A ceremony for the delivery was held with the participation of Kim Jong Un. pic.twitter.com/M9szyvZkst
— Indo-Pacific News – Geo-Politics & Defense (@IndoPac_Info) August 5, 2024
The South Korean government is concerned that the weapons “are intended to be used in various ways, such to attack or threaten South Korea,” the country’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-joon told reporters, according to Reuters. South Korea and its northern counterpart are long-time adversaries; attempts by South Korea and the West at diplomacy with North Korea have largely failed in recent years, according to the Congressional Research Service.
During the Sunday ceremony, Kim also spoke of North Korea’s willingness to go to war with the U.S. and its allies, noting that the missile systems were a sign that his country was gearing up for a conflict scenario, according to KCNA Watch.
“We should possess the capability to cope on our own initiative with new, potential dangers to our security, as well as the various imminent threats by the United States,” Kim said on Sunday. “If it continues attempting to jeopardize the security of the region in disregard of our repeated warnings, we will make the United States acutely aware that there will be fatal consequences for its own security.”
The U.S. and the West have become increasingly concerned with North Korea’s nuclear and military capabilities. North Korea has traditionally been hostile toward the West, although former President Donald Trump’s administration had worked with Kim’s regime to work toward the country’s denuclearization.
The attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, and the Biden administration has not met with or found diplomatic solutions with North Korea during President Joe Biden’s tenure, according to Foreign Policy. North Korean media previously reported that the country does “not care” who wins the U.S. presidential elections in November, as it does not expect relations to change.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Flickr/State Department photo Ron Przysucha / Public Domain
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