Seoul, South Korea (AP) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un He condemned South Korea’s military training and vowed to rapidly expand his nuclear forces to counter his rivals, state media said Tuesday that he had tested his most advanced warships to be equipped with nuclear response systems.
Kim’s visit to West Nampo on Monday South Korea and the US military have begun their annual large summer practice It will strengthen preparations for North Korea’s threat growth. The 11-day Ulch Freedom Shield, which allies describe as defensive, mobilizes 21,000 troops, including 18,000 Koreans, for computer-simulated command post operations and field training.
North Korea has long denounced allies’ joint drills as rehearsals for invasions, and Kim has often used them to justify his own military displays and testing activities aimed at expanding the nuclear weapons programme.
The South Korean Peninsula is in a state of technological warfare, and is divided into North Korea and South Korea by the demilitarized zone.
Under inspection Warship Chohion, Northern South Korea Central News Agency said the 5,000-ton destroyer was first announced in April, and that joint military training from the allies showed hostility and “willing to set fire to the war.” He argued that the exercise was more provocative than before by incorporating a “nuclear element,” and demanded that North respond with “active and overwhelming” measures.
“The security environment around DPRK is becoming more serious every day, and in the general situation we need to bring about radical and rapid change in existing military theories and the rapid expansion of nuclearization,” KCNA said using the Republic of the South Korean Democratic Party, using the official name initials of North Korea.
The new liberals of the Korean government President Lee Jae Myungwho expressed their willingness to repair the tie and resume dialogue with the North, did not immediately respond to Kim’s comments.
South Korean and US military officials say the Ulch Freedom Shield will focus on countering North Korea’s advance nuclear and missile threats, including training to block North Korea’s nuclear use and respond to missile attacks. The exercise also incorporates lessons from recent conflicts, such as the Russian war in Ukraine and the Israeli-Iran clash, addressing threats from drones, GPS jamming and cyberattacks.
Kim welcomed the development of his naval destroyer Cho Ha-ion as an important advance towards his goal of expanding the scope of his nuclear armed forces and the ability to preempt attack. State media said the destroyers are ready to enter active duty next year and are designed to handle a variety of weapons systems, including anti-Ayal and anti-Nabal weapons, as well as nuclear-responding ballistic and cruise missiles.
North announced its second destroyer of the same class in May, but the ships Failed launch ceremony At the northeastern port of Jeongjin, he urged an angry response from Kim, who called the failure a “criminal.” The North said a new destroyer named Kang Kong was rebooted in June after repairs, but some outside experts have questioned whether the ship is fully operational.
During his visit to Nampo on Monday, Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s plans to build a third destroyer by October, according to KCNA. While investigating Cho Ha-ion, Kim expressed satisfaction with the advances in the warship’s weapons testing and its integrated operational system, saying that the navy’s modernization and moves towards nuclear-capable capabilities are progressing as planned.
Kim accelerates his military nuclear program, Deepened integrity with Moscow After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His government repeatedly rejected calls from Washington and Seoul, reviving negotiations aimed at introducing his nuclear and missile programs. This derailed in 2019 after a summit that collapsed with US President Donald Trump during his first term.
In his latest message to Pyongyang on Friday, Lee, who took office in June, said he would do so. Trying to restore the 2018 Interal Kingdom military agreement It was designed to reduce border tensions, calling on North Korea to respond to Southern efforts to rebuild trust and revive consultations.
The 2018 military agreement reached during a brief diplomacy between South Korea and created an on-shore and sea buffer zone and an in-flight zone above the border to prevent collisions. However, South Korea suspended its contract in 2024, citing tensions over North Korea’s launch Balloons littering south, We moved to resume frontline military operations and propaganda campaigns. This step came after North Korea had already declared it would not comply with the agreement.
