Speaking at a multi-day plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang at the end of the year, Kim spoke of a “challenging situation” on the Korean peninsula and in the international environment, state-controlled media reported. on Wednesday. Kim has set “new core goals for strengthening independent defense capabilities” to be enforced by 2023.
Details were not given. Observers in neighboring South Korea assume that Kim was referring to the goals that the largely isolated country formulated at a party congress in early 2021. At the time, Kim outlined a series of projects designed to bolster the armed forces and expand the country’s nuclear arsenal, including “first strike” and “retaliatory capabilities.” The country is subject to severe international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula had risen noticeably this year. North Korea has significantly increased the pace and scope of testing nuclear weapons missiles. The US and its ally South Korea are simultaneously resuming large-scale joint military exercises.
North Korea announced the current party meeting in early December to determine political strategy for the coming year. The Central Committee is one of the leading organs of the party, of which Kim is the head.
(SDA)