North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced that in 2024 he will launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear weapons and introduce modern combat drones, and called for the country to prepare to face confrontational moves by the United States (US) and of their followers, state media announced.
Kim was speaking at the end-of-year plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, which sets goals for the coming year.
He hinted that weapons testing will be stepped up ahead of the US presidential election in November 2024.
During the five-day plenum of the ruling party that ended yesterday, Kim said that the actions of the US and its followers against North Korea were unprecedented this year and brought the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war, reports the official KCNA news agency.
"This serious situation requires us to accelerate the work of acquiring a convincing war response capacity and complete and perfect military readiness to suppress any kind of enemy provocations in one move," Kim said.
He outlined plans to launch three more military spy satellites next year in addition to the country's first reconnaissance satellite launched in November 2023.
Observers said that Kim believes that the increased nuclear capability will give another chance to renew diplomacy at the summit with the US and result in the easing of sanctions if Donald Trump returns to the White House after the election, AP reports.
Kim stressed the need to establish a "reliable foundation" for increasing North Korea's nuclear arsenal, referring to its plutonium and enriched uranium facilities.
Kim also ordered authorities to step up production of submarines and develop various types of unmanned combat aircraft, drones, according to KCNA.
From last year to the end of this year, North Korea conducted test tests with more than 100 ballistic missiles, many of which were nuclear-capable and capable of reaching South Korea and the US mainland, in violation of UN sanctions.
The US and South Korea responded with increased military exercises and the deployment of US bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines to South Korea. North Korea sees it as a drill for invading its territory.
During the party rally, Kim used belligerent and derisive rhetoric against South Korea, calling it a "semi-paralyzed deformed American colony with American culture."
He said South Korea cannot be considered a partner for reconciliation or unification.
He ordered the military to use all available means, including nuclear, to conquer South Korea in the event of a war.
He said North Korea must strengthen cooperation with what he called anti-imperialist, independent countries that oppose Western hegemony led by the US.
He did not name those countries, but North Korea is seeking to strengthen cooperation with Russia and China, which have repeatedly blocked efforts by the US and other countries to strengthen UN sanctions against North Korea for conducting banned missile tests, according to the AP.
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