[2023 National Audit] Ministry of Unification: "North Korea Exposes Issues Due to Rash Nuclear Advancement"

Ministry of Unification Reports on Foreign Affairs Committee's National Audit
"North Korea Exposes Issues While Focusing on Nuclear Advancement"
Collecting Opinions for Next Year's North Korea Human Rights Report Publication

The government assessed that North Korea is overly obsessed with advancing its nuclear capabilities, which has instead revealed issues such as the 'failure of reconnaissance satellite launches.' It is expected to continue 'sanctions evasion' by maintaining a hardline stance toward South Korea and the United States while closely aligning with China and Russia.

On the 11th, Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification, stated at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s inspection of the Ministry of Unification, "The North Korean regime is focusing on nuclear and missile development while ignoring the lives of its people who are in distress," adding, "They have codified the advancement of nuclear capabilities in the North Korean constitution and even announced plans for intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches disguised as reconnaissance satellite launches." He also mentioned the possibility of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, saying, "In difficult times, the government has sought to remain faithful to principles and fundamentals, and we are making efforts to improve North Korean human rights while steadfastly upholding these principles."

At the expanded meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman Kim Jong-un is pointing to the South Korean map and instructing, "Prepare for war more aggressively."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Through the 'Work Status Report' submitted at the inspection, the Ministry of Unification evaluated that North Korea is putting all its efforts into uniting its people and advancing its nuclear capabilities. In particular, after enshrining 'nuclear possession' in its constitution in 2012, legalizing the 'nuclear force policy' last year, and again including 'nuclear weapon advancement' in the constitution this year, North Korea is expressing its determination not to give up its nuclear arsenal.

However, the government’s assessment is that North Korea’s hasty push for results is instead exposing problems. A representative example is the repeated failures of 'military reconnaissance satellite' launches. North Korea attempted its first 'military reconnaissance satellite' launch in May this year but failed, and the second attempt in August also ended in failure. The tactical nuclear attack submarine 'Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship,' unveiled for the first time last month, was also evaluated as difficult to operate normally.

The government expects North Korea to maintain a hardline stance toward South Korea and the United States while openly threatening preemptive nuclear use. North Korea has already revealed scenes from meetings of the Party Central Military Commission in April and August this year, where maps of South Korea were spread out, seemingly implying attacks on the South. Furthermore, North Korea is expected to continue its close alignment with China and Russia to counter international pressure. In particular, it is anticipated that North Korea will continue attempts to evade sanctions by strengthening the North Korea-China-Russia alliance in response to the escalating security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

Additionally, the Ministry of Unification emphasized 'improvement of North Korean human rights' among its key policies. Following the first public release of the '2023 North Korean Human Rights Report' this year, it is currently gathering domestic and international opinions since August to prepare for the publication of the '2024 North Korean Human Rights Report' next year. Efforts to resolve issues related to separated families, South Korean prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees were also promised. Through the newly established 'Abductee Countermeasures Team' directly under the minister last month, the government plans to develop various 'policy measures' under the principle of protecting its citizens.

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