| Translate This News In |
|---|
According to state media, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reviewed a rare showcase of weapons systems and vowed to build an unbeatable force, accusing the US of inflaming tensions and failing to take steps to demonstrate that it has no hostile intentions toward the North. Kim also stated his military buildup isn’t aimed at South Korea, and that there shouldn’t be another conflict putting Koreans against each other, in an apparent attempt to drive a wedge between Washington and Seoul.
Kim delivered the address on Monday at the Defense Development Exhibition Self-Defense-2021, which was held to commemorate the ruling Workers’ Party’s 76th birthday the day before. According to South Korean media, it was North Korea’s first such event. According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the US has often said that it is not hostile to our country, but there is no action-based proof to support this claim. With its erroneous judgements and actions, the United States continues to exacerbate tensions in the region.
Kim said his country’s most important goal is to have an invincible military power that no one can dare to challenge, referring to the United States as a source of instability on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea has been accused of hypocrisy by Kim for criticising North Korea’s nuclear development as provocative while investing substantially in its own military capabilities, notably the purchase of modern American stealth jets. His military, however, does not attack South Korea, he said. I repeat, our armed troops do not have to fight against South Korea, Kim stated.We aren’t bolstering our defence capabilities because of South Korea, for sure. We must not repeat the dreadful past of compatriots using violence against one another.
In recent weeks, North Korea has conveyed conflicting messages to its adversaries. North Korea conducted its first missile tests in six months last month, demonstrating nuclear-armed weaponry capable of striking targets in South Korea and Japan, including US military facilities. North Korea, on the other hand, has stated that if certain conditions are met, it is willing to engage with South Korea. According to some analysts, North Korea is aiming to leverage South Korea’s desire to strengthen ties with the US to persuade the US to ease sanctions and make other concessions.
North Korea has long sought improved relations with the US in order to obtain sanctions relief and a safer environment in which to focus on restoring its stagnant economy. The high-stakes negotiations between the two countries collapsed in early 2019 after the US rejected North Korea’s demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for partial nuclear disarmament steps.
The US has recently promised North Korea unrestricted talks anywhere and at any time. Kim has described such an offer as a crafty attempt by the US to hide its animosity toward North Korea, as he demands that Washington reduce sanctions or pause regular military drills with Seoul before the negotiations can resume. Despite recent missile launches, Kim has maintained a self-imposed 2018 ban on long-range missile testing directly targeting the United States, indicating that he still wants to keep the possibility of future discussions with Washington alive.
