Kim Jong-un Threatens "Will Not Hesitate to Launch Nuclear Attack if Provoked"

Security Council's Response to North Korea's ICBM Discussion
Kim Yo-jong Mentions "Regret, Displeasure, Condemnation"
Threatens New Provocations in Response to ROK-US Actions

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, encouraged the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch unit and stated, "When the enemy provokes us with nuclear weapons, we will not hesitate to carry out a nuclear attack." Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party, expressed displeasure and strong condemnation regarding the UN Security Council's convening related to the ICBM launch. This is interpreted as an immediate response to the UN Security Council's discussion on North Korea's ICBM provocations.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 21st, Chairman Kim Jong-un and Vice Department Director Kim Yo-jong made these remarks concerning the ICBM launch. On the 20th, Kim Jong-un called military personnel who participated in the launch training of the Hwasong-18 ICBM to the headquarters building of the Party Central Committee and stated, "This was a clear explanation of our country's aggressive response method and the evolution of our nuclear strategy." He also added, "This military activity is a demonstration of the fidelity and firm stance of our armed forces in defending the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

Kim Jong-un said, "The dignity of the country, the protection of national rights, and the defense of national interests can only be reliably guaranteed by strong power," and "No enemy can avoid fear, and having the actual capability and readiness to preemptively attack any enemy is true defense power and solid peacekeeping." He further stated, "I am deeply impressed by the combat power of the company that demonstrated high mobility and rapid attack capability during the launch training." The news agency reported that Kim Jong-un expressed expectations that the unit would thoroughly prepare to fulfill its sacred mission of deterring nuclear war and maintaining peace at any time.

Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party

Vice Department Director Kim Yo-jong condemned the UN Security Council using words such as "regret," "condemnation," and "displeasure" in a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency. Kim Yo-jong said, "The Security Council once again held a meeting that excluded and ignored the rhetorical and behavioral provocations by the United States and the Republic of Korea, which were the direct motives for North Korea's response, and only problematized our exercise of self-defense rights," adding, "It is regrettable and again regrettable."

Earlier, North Korea launched the Hwasong-18 ICBM on the 18th, and the Security Council held discussions at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 19th (local time) at the request of the United States. Although a unified response at the Security Council level failed due to opposition from China and Russia, ten countries including South Korea condemned North Korea through a joint declaration released before the meeting, stating, "We can no longer ignore North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons."

Kim Yo-jong said, "I am extremely displeased with the Security Council convening a public meeting at the request of the United States and its follower countries and putting the sovereign rights of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the agenda for discussion, and I strongly condemn this." She added that the Security Council should hold the United States and the Republic of Korea accountable for their "irresponsible attitudes and actions," and the international community should also criticize the US and South Korea.

In particular, Kim Yo-jong warned, "It would be better for hostile forces to start considering now how the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will regulate, regard, and respond to the future military confrontation scenarios against North Korea that the United States and the Republic of Korea have announced." This is a threat indicating a new provocation in response to the US-ROK countermeasures.

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