[ad_1]
The parade was held in Pyongyang on the occasion of a congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, at which Kim Jong-un announced an increase in North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and called the United States the country’s “greatest” enemy.
The state news agency KCNA called the new missile “the most powerful weapon in the world.” It is said to demonstrate the power of the North Korean armed forces. The missile is capable of “proactively destroying enemies outside its territory.” This choice of words suggests that the missile’s range may be beyond the Korean peninsula and that the missile may at least reach Japan.
The rocket launch could be interpreted as a show of force at the leadership of the new US President Joe Biden, who will take office on Wednesday. The United States has 28,500 soldiers deployed in South Korea. The country’s military presence is also significant in Japan.
According to experts, Kim Jong Un can seek out Biden’s concessions with the power signals he sends. North Korea is severely suffering from international sanctions against the country for its nuclear and missile programs.
In recent years, Kim Jong Un has sought a rapprochement with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to lift the sanctions. The leaders of both countries met three times in person. But the last summit in Hanoi in February 2019 collapsed.
Since then, talks between Washington and Pyongyang to reduce North Korea’s nuclear program have stalled. Tensions are also rising between North and South Korea.
Kim Jong Un has severely attacked Biden in the past. Among other things, he called the former vice president of the United States a “mad dog.” Biden, for his part, called the North Korean leader a “criminal” during the election campaign.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of ELTA.
[ad_2]
