Pyongyang [North Korea], March 25 (ANI): North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has defended his country’s decision to maintain nuclear weapons, saying the ongoing war involving Iran demonstrates the need for a strong military deterrence, according to South Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
In remarks reported by KCNA, Kim on Tuesday, during a speech to North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, accused the United States of carrying out “terrorism and invasions” across different regions, referring to Washington’s ongoing conflict with Iran, though he did not directly mention U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Dignity, interest, and the final victory of a country can only be guaranteed by the most powerful might,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying. “Whether the enemies choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence, that’s their choice, and we are ready to respond to any choice.”
He vowed to further advance North Korea’s “defensive nuclear deterrence” and maintain a “prompt and precise” response posture for its nuclear forces to address “strategic threats” to national and regional security.
North Korea “will continue to solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state while aggressively staging campaigns to crush any provocations by hostile forces,” Kim said, as quoted by KCNA.
In the same address, Kim also escalated rhetoric toward South Korea, formally declaring it the “most hostile nation.”
North Korea has “officially” recognized South Korea as the most hostile nation and will ignore and disregard it through clear statements and actions, Kim said, warning of “merciless” consequences if Seoul undertakes any actions that provoke Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations with Iran are underway, expressing optimism that the conflict may soon end.
“We’re in negotiations right now. I can tell you they’d like to make a deal—and who wouldn’t? Their navy’s gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. Pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot say for sure, but we have won this,” Trump said.
“We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can’t do a thing about it. If I want to take down a power plant, they can’t do a thing about it. They are totally defeated. Militarily, they are done,” he added.
There has been no formal response from Iran to the latest overtures from the United States. Iranian officials on Tuesday denied reports of negotiations, stating that peace would only be possible once U.S. and Israeli military operations cease.
With the Iranian military continuing its retaliatory strikes, including the latest wave of attacks, prospects for peace in West Asia remain uncertain. (ANI)
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