DPRK warns of 'grave action without hesitation' against US hostilities
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The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea explains in a final 2023 address that Pyongyang will no longer regard South Korea as an extension of the Korean people but as a "a colonial stooge of the US".
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In this photo provided by the DPRK government, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a year-end plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party, which was held between December 26-30, 2023, in Pyongyang, DPRK. (AP)
The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong Un, spoke during the historic 9th Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), and warned the US and South Korea that the growing escalation will, "without hesitation", provoke a large-scale response from the DPRK, according to KCNA.
Primarily, Kim emphasized the "need to admit the reality and make the relations with the South Korean puppets clearer," explaining that "it is a mistake we should no longer make to regard the clan, who publicly defined us as the 'principal enemy' and is seeking only the opportunity of 'collapse of power' and 'unification by absorption' in collusion with foreign forces, as the partner of reconciliation and reunification."
Stressing the above, the DPRK leader then put in context the next part of his statement, where he underscored that "It is not suitable" for the DPRK anymore "to discuss the issue of reunification with the strange clan, who is no more than a colonial stooge of the US, just because of the rhetorical word the fellow countrymen."
With the ongoing escalation of hostilities pushed forward by the US and its proxy, as dubbed by the DPRK leader, Kim has "Solemnly" declared that "if the US and South Korean puppets stubbornly attempt a military confrontation with the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea], the latter's nuclear war deterrence will go over to a grave action without hesitation."
Kim then announced that "the conclusion set forth the important tasks for the fields in charge of the affairs with enemies and foreign countries to make preparations in a foresighted way for keeping pace with the powerful military actions of the Korean People's Army to subjugate the whole territory of the south on the basis of making it a fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula any time due to the enemies' reckless moves for invading the DPRK."
'War' appears more likely
The DPRK leader also explained that "the US inveterate hostile acts against the DPRK are not only confined to rhetoric threat or demonstration purposes but have evidently evolved into a stage of execution which can lead to actual military actions and thus trigger a conflict between the armed forces of both sides."
Based on that assessment and with the "aggravating" security situation across the Korean peninsula, the DPRK leader highlighted that "the word 'war' is already approaching us as a realistic entity, not as an abstract concept," and said that the government of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol "is making a suicidal attempt to achieve the 'balance of power' with the DPRK and in confrontation with it to the last by expanding the 'UN Command,' an illegal ghost body, into a multinational war organization for provoking the second Korean war."
Kim also reiterated the need to "steadily step up the work" for the "full and perfect military combat readiness to deter any form of provocation" as well as "action at a blow" given the increasing escalations.
Moreover, the DPRK leader commanded the country's army to "closely watch and sharply control the hourly changing acute security situation in the Korean peninsula and take more thorough military measures to firmly safeguard the security of the state" and "rapidly respond to any possible nuclear crisis and put continuous spurs to the preparations for a great event to suppress the whole territory of South Korea by mobilizing all physical means and forces including nuclear forces in contingency."
Pyongyang, under the leadership of Kim, in 2024, must also "set forth the tasks for concentrating the main efforts on the development of relations with the ruling parties of socialist countries to further expand and strengthen the external sphere of the country", seeking to "further developing the relations with the anti-imperialist independent countries opposed to the hegemony strategy of the US and the West under ever-changing international situation and waging a dynamic anti-imperialist joint action and struggle on an international scale."
DPRK to launch three more reconnaissance satellites in 2024
Pyongyang this year successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, enshrined its status as a nuclear power in its constitution, and test-fired the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal.
The DPRK leader announced plans for further military development in the coming year, including launching three more reconnaissance satellites, building unmanned drones, and developing electronic warfare capabilities, as well as strengthening nuclear and missile forces, according to KCNA.
In an act of provocation, Washington earlier this month deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan, and flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo.
The DPRK has previously described the deployment of Washington's strategic weapons -- such as B-52 bombers -- in joint drills on the Korean peninsula as "intentional nuclear war provocative moves."
"We must respond quickly to a possible nuclear crisis and continue to accelerate preparations to pacify the entire territory of South Korea by mobilising all physical means and forces, including nuclear force, in case of emergency," Kim stressed.
At the meeting, the DPRK leader said he would no longer seek reconciliation and reunification with South Korea, noting the "persisting uncontrollable crisis situation" which he said was triggered by Seoul and Washington.
"I believe that it is a mistake that we should no longer make to consider the people who declare us as the 'main enemy'... as a counterpart for reconciliation and unification," KCNA cited Kim as saying.
