North Korea touts nukes as ‘powerful deterrent’ against US
Kim Jong Un says atomic development boosting economy despite sanctions
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North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said on Saturday that nuclear weapons were a “powerful deterrent” in the region.
Referring to “the protracted nuclear threats of the US imperialists,” Kim told the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party that nuclear weapons would help safeguard peace and security in the Korean peninsula and northeast Asia, the Reuters news agency reported Sunday.
“The national economy has grown on their strength this year, despite the escalating sanctions,” Kim reportedly said, in reference to UN Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing the country’s nuclear and missile development.
On Friday, a Russian politician was quoted as saying that Pyongyang was planning a test launch for a nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US mainland.
In August and September, North Korea launched missiles over Japan and in September appeared to have carried out a sixth nuclear test, possibly of a hydrogen bomb.
An escalating war of words has seen US President Donald Trump hint at using force on several occasions and warning outright before the UN General Assembly last month that he could “totally destroy” the country.
…hasn't worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of U.S. negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017
On Saturday he tweeted, “Presidents and their administrations had been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid,” but that it “hasn’t worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of US negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!”
Last week, as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew home from meeting with top Chinese officials, Trump tweeted that his envoy was “wasting his time” trying to probe North Korea’s willingness to talk.
The message came after Tillerson had revealed there were back channels between US and North Korean officials.
Reuters also reported that the North Korean leader appointed his sister Kim Yo Jong to his top decision-making body, the politburo, while Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, who called Trump “President Evil” during an address to the UN General Assembly last month, was promoted to a full voting politburo member.
AFP contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.