Kim Jong-un threatens use of nuclear weapons in response to US' 'hostile acts'

In a speech to mark the anniversary of the end of the Korean war, known as ‘Victory Day’ in North Korea, Kim Jong-un said North Korea is ready to use its nuclear weapons in any potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea.

'Nuclear war deterrence is ready to mobilise'

Jong-un said, as reported by Sky News:

Our armed forces are thoroughly prepared to respond to any crisis, and our nation's nuclear war deterrence is also fully ready to mobilise its absolute strength faithfully, accurately and promptly to its mission.

The North Korean leader said the country was building up its defence due to the threat of the US. Jong-un accused the US of 'demonising' North Korea to justify its 'dangerous, illegal hostile acts' towards the country. He said, as reported by Al Jazeera:

The duplex act of the United States, which is misleading all the routine actions of our armed forces as ‘provocation’ and ‘threat’ while holding large-scale joint military exercises that seriously threaten our security, is literally a robbery.

That is driving bilateral relations to the point where it is difficult to turn back, into a state of conflict.

South Korean government and military 'will be annihilated'

He also criticised South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol for the first time, calling him 'a confrontation maniac,' and warning that the Korean Peninsula was being pushed to the 'brink of war,' as reported by NPR.

In response to the new administration's move to strengthen the South Korea-US military alliance and boost its ability to neutralise North Koreannuclear threats, including pre-emptive strikes, Jong-un said:

Talking about military action against our nation, which possess absolute weapons that they fear the most, is preposterous and is very dangerous suicidal action.

Such a dangerous attempt will be immediately punished by our powerful strength and the Yoon Suk-yeol government and his military will be annihilated.

It comes as officials in Seoul and Washington have warned that North Korea has completed preparations to carry out its seventh nuclear test, its first since 2017.

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