The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised on Tuesday boosting the country’s nuclear war capability and take other steps to protest the recent arrival of a US nuclear submarine in South Korea.
North Korea has repeatedly vowed to expand its nuclear arsenal, but Kim Yo Jong’s new threat came after Pyongyang escalated regional tensions by show off a uranium enrichment facility and test a new ballistic missile this month.
In a statement carried by state media, Kim Yo Jong said the submarine’s visit “clearly reveals the frantic military and strategic intent of the United States.” She said that in response, the North Korea’s nuclear war deterrence It had to be strengthened “both in quality and quantity, continuously and without limits.”
“US strategic assets will never find their resting place in the Korean Peninsula region,” he said. “We will continue to report that all ports and military bases in the ROC are not safe places,” he said, using the acronym of the Korean People’s Republic of Korea. Republic of Koreathe official name of South Korea.
His comments suggested that North Korea could Test a missile capable of reaching the South Korean site where the US submarine is moored, according to some observers.
Uranium enrichment facilities:
????????KIM TO WORLD: HEY LOOK, I HAVE A TON OF URANIUM… ISN’T IT COOL?
????????????????IRAN & RUSSIA: “YES, IT IS VERY COOL, KIM…”
Kim Jong Un just showed off his uranium enrichment sites and called for an “exponential” increase in nuclear warheads.
With enough uranium to make up to 90… pic.twitter.com/eBsgNoWqtE
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 14, 2024
The South Korean military said the USS Vermont, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarinearrived in the South Korean port city of Busan on Monday to take on supplies and give its crew a rest.
The temporary deployment of powerful US military assets such as aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and bombers to South Korea is not unusual, although Washington has increased them in the past year as show of force in the face of North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats.
Pyongyang often responds with fury to such visits, which it describes as evidence of hostile intentions, and reacts with missile tests.
North Korean state media published on September 13 images of a secret facility to enrich uranium for nuclear weaponsIt was the first installation of its kind that North Korea had unveiled since it showed off the country’s main nuclear site, Yongbyon, to visiting American scholars in 2010.
Pyongyang last week tested a new ballistic missile designed to carry what it described as “a super-large 4.5-ton conventional warhead” and a modified cruise missile.
Since late May, North Korea has also launched Thousands of balloons with garbage heading to South Koreain a Cold War-style psychological warfare campaign. This prompted South Korea to resume propaganda broadcasts over loudspeakers in border areas.
????????KIM JONG UN SHOWS OFF URANIUM ENRICHMENT PLANT
North Korea has unveiled the plant, which is designed to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.
During a visit, Kim outlined key tasks to increase the production of weapon-grade materials.
Earlier in the week, he announced plans to… pic.twitter.com/HytgD0Qg4V
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 13, 2024
South Korea’s military on Tuesday warned of unspecified military action if the North continues its balloon campaign to the point where seriously threaten the safety of South Korean civilians.
Military spokesman Lee Sung Joon did not say what measures South Korea might take, but reiterated that the military is not considering shooting down the balloons in the air because they could carry dangerous substances.
So far, the balloons launched by North Korea have not caused serious damage.
SNGZ
