North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watched major weapons tests and ordered the military to strengthen a “deadly and destructive offensive posture,” state media reported, days after commissioning the country’s first naval destroyer.
SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong Un watched weapons tests on Thursday and told North Korea’s military to bolster what state media called a “deadly and destructive offensive posture,” pushing the message of deterrence even as he avoids talks with South Korea and the United States.
The observation came with the tests aimed at evaluating multiple weapons capabilities. including a “special mission” warhead for a tactical ballistic missile. an upgraded multiple rocket launch system. and the hit accuracy of shells with an extended firing range from a self-propelled gun-howitzer. the Korean Central News Agency reported.
KCNA said Kim viewed the results as proof of “technological progress” tied to a change in “fire posture on southern border areas,” a phrase that KCNA used in a way that suggested the tested systems are meant to target sites in South Korea, including U.S. military bases there.
Kim framed the goal in blunt terms. He said North Korea’s self-defense policy includes strengthening the “deadly and destructive offensive posture to make no enemy dare to confront. ” and added that making enemies feel “constant uneasiness and fear” is “just an important aspect of the exercise of war deterrent.”.
KCNA also described the special mission warhead as intended for “inflicting fatal damage on major targets including airfields, ports and power facilities of the enemy.”
That push arrives days after North Korea commissioned what it called its first naval destroyer. On Tuesday, Kim commissioned the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon, described by KCNA as North Korea’s most advanced warship and touted by Kim as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities.
Kim has been focused on expanding North Korea’s nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. In the years since. he has also underscored the need to build sophisticated conventional weapons. pairing the message of deterrence with an emphasis on readiness and precision.
His refusal to return to talks with South Korea and the United States has been matched by a harsher stance toward the South, which he calls North Korea’s “principal enemy.” KCNA reported that Kim has built more military structures along the rivals’ heavily fortified border.
There is a broader diplomatic picture behind the military one. KCNA said Kim has boosted his diplomatic footprint by expanding ties with Russia. supported by his backing for Russia’s war against Ukraine. Earlier this month. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea for the first time in seven years to meet with Kim.
At the same time, Kim has suggested that diplomacy could resume only if the United States drops its demand for denuclearization of North Korea as a precondition.
Kim Jong Un North Korea KCNA weapons tests tactical ballistic missile multiple rocket launch system gun-howitzer shells destroyer Choe Hyon offensive posture nuclear and conventional weapons South Korea U.S. bases
Deadly offensive posture? That just sounds like they wanna start something.
So they watched tests and told them to be more deadly… like no kidding. Also does anyone else think “southern border areas” is code for like Seoul or whatever?
Wait I thought they just commissioned a destroyer like “first one ever.” If they already have that, why are they still doing “special mission” warheads? Seems contradictory. Maybe it’s just propaganda to scare the US into not talking.
This reads like they’re bragging about hitting airfields and ports, but then it says deterrence. Deterrence to who, exactly? South Korea? The US? Idk. Honestly I’m tired of the headline flip-flopping between talks and tests. If they really commissioned a destroyer days ago then the next “exercise” is probably gonna be even worse, like tomorrow.