North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his country’s nuclear weapons as a powerful deterrent against military threats, state media reported, as prospects of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula continue to decline amid stagnant talks with Washington.
“We have been able to reliably defend ourselves against any form of high-intensity pressure and military threat from imperialist reactionaries and other hostile forces,” Kim said during a reception for veterans commemorating the 67th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. 1950-53. the official state news agency KCNA said Tuesday.
“Thanks to our reliable and effective nuclear self-deterrence, the word war would no longer exist on this earth, and the security and future of our state will be guaranteed forever,” said the North Korean leader in his speech.
Kim’s comments come amid stalled talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula in exchange for relief from Washington sanctions.
Kim and President Donald Trump have met on several occasions to negotiate the end of North Korea’s nuclear program, but have failed to reach an agreement.
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said earlier this month that the president could seek another summit with Kim as a “surprise October” ahead of the November presidential election, according to Reuters.
But Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seemed to pour cold water at the possibility of another U.S. summit with North Korea, saying Trump only wanted to participate if there was a chance for real progress.
Dispelling speculation that Trump might meet Kim before the election, a senior North Korean diplomat also said this month that the country “does not feel any need” to enter into negotiations with the United States.
But North Korea has shown its discontent with the stalled talks by blowing up a liaison office, a symbol of cooperation and a permanent channel of communication with South Korea, in one of the most serious escalations of tensions on the Korean Peninsula this month. past.
The demolition of the liaison office came after North Korea condemned South Korea for failing to prevent activists from sending anti-North Korean pamphlets across the border and canceled all communications with Seoul.
North Korea’s already struggling economy is believed to have fallen into even more difficult times during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Friday, Kim ordered the complete closure of the city of Kaesong near the border with South Korea due to an alleged COVID-19 case.
North Korean officials have said the country has so far avoided any case of the disease that has affected the rest of the world, although many outside experts have questioned that claim.
Ed Flanagan contributed
