North Korea: "Preemptive Nuclear Strike on South Korea When Inevitable"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] North Korea's state media claimed this year as "a great year of victory in which the prestige and absolute power as a global military power were demonstrated to the whole world." At the same time, although based on 'inevitable circumstances,' it repeatedly threatened that it could launch a preemptive nuclear strike against South Korea.

The Workers' Party organ, Rodong Sinmun, on the 20th, featured an article titled "The Military Miracle that Demonstrated the National Prestige and Glory of Juche Korea to the World" on its front page, focusing on this year's military achievements.

The newspaper particularly defined the successful launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-17 on the 18th of last month, observed by Chairman Kim Jong-un, as a "historic event and a great national celebration." It added, "With the great success of the new intercontinental ballistic missile test launch, we powerfully demonstrated the unchanging ultra-hardline determination against the enemy of 'nuclear for nuclear, direct confrontation for direct confrontation!'"

Regarding the Hwasong-17, it claimed, "As long as the United States' hostile policy and nuclear threats against Korea are not fundamentally eliminated, we will not retreat even an inch from the path of strengthening our nuclear forces under any circumstances. The more the hostile forces' desperate struggles and offensives intensify, the faster the qualitative and quantitative enhancement of our self-defensive nuclear forces will accelerate. We have clearly shown the United States and its followers that military responses against us will inevitably lead to their self-destruction."

It also asserted, "By codifying the national nuclear force policy into law, we have declared to the whole world that our nuclear weapons are never and absolutely not bound solely by the mission of preventing war, and that if inevitable circumstances arise, we may be forced to carry out a powerful preemptive nuclear strike. This has been practically demonstrated through this recent military action."

North Korea's nuclear force law adopted in September lists one of the conditions for nuclear weapon use as "when a catastrophic crisis threatening the existence of the state and the safety of the people's lives occurs, creating an inevitable situation where nuclear response is unavoidable."

The newspaper also mentioned, "Despite this year's severe national crisis, the warriors of national defense science created miracles by consecutively developing and completing new-generation Juche weapons," citing test launches of hypersonic missiles and long-range strategic cruise missiles.

The newspaper emphasized, "We powerfully demonstrated the extraordinary development speed that others cannot even imagine, and the capability to strike enemies at any place, any time, with any purpose and method."

Additionally, it evaluated, "Through the success of the recent ground ejection test of the 140tf (ton-force, thrust lifting 140 tons) propulsion high-output solid-fuel engine, a firm scientific and technological guarantee for the development of another new strategic weapon system has been established."

The test conducted on the 15th is analyzed as a high-power rocket engine test for the development of a new ICBM using solid fuel.

Regarding these achievements, the newspaper praised Chairman Kim Jong-un, stating, "The beloved General Secretary's vision is science and practice, and if we follow the General Secretary's teachings, everything will be successful."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.