North Korea can pose 'substantial nuclear threat to US'

2024-06-01 07:34:15      点击：223

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stands to deliver an opening speech at a conference of the Workers' Party of Korea, in Pyongyang, Thursday. Circled in red is Kim Yo-jong, his sister who was recently given a leading post within the party. / Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country can pose a "substantial nuclear threat" to the United States, according to state media, Friday.

His remark comes after Pyongyang declared last month that it had mastered nuclear technology sufficiently after launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that it claimed was capable of striking the entire U.S. mainland.

In an opening speech at a conference of district chairpersons of the Workers' Party of Korea Thursday, he stressed that "nobody can deny the entity of the DPRK which rapidly emerged as a strategic state capable of posing a substantial nuclear threat to the U.S.," according to an English statement from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. The chairpersons are leaders of the party's lowest-level units called cells, which usually consist of five to 30 people. It was the first meeting of cell chairpersons since January 2013.

Reviewing the Korean Peninsula situation, Kim said: "The rapid development of the DPRK's nuclear force is now exerting major influence on the world political structure and strategic environment," according to the KCNA.

He said North Korea has achieved nuclear armament by fulfilling independence, self-reliance and self-defense stances, despite hardship from the "enemies' anti-North Korea moves."

"Although grave challenges that should not be overlooked face us, we neither feel disappointed nor are we afraid of them, but we are optimistic about progress of our revolution under this situation," he was quoted as saying.

Kim said the situation is a good chance for the country to unite and develop independently, adding "we have to work with confidence, optimism and a smile."

The leader called on cell chairpersons to "launch a brave offensive" so the country can "smash the escalating aggression moves of the U.S. imperialists and their sanctions, and pressure and promote the radical progress of socialist construction."

On Nov. 29, North Korea launched a new type of ICBM, the Hwasong-15, which reached an altitude of 4,500 kilometers and traveled 960 kilometers before falling into the East Sea.

Meanwhile, Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's younger sister, was seen sitting in the front row on the stage during the conference, showing her upgraded political status, according to photos disclosed by the North's Rodong Sinmun.

In October, she was named as an alternate member of the party's top decision-making body, showing Kim Jong-un's intention to tighten his family's control over the party.