North Korea's Kim Orders Big Expansion Of Country's Nuclear Arsenal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the “exponential” expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal as well as the development of a new, more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile, according to state media, after entering 2023 with another weapons test after a record number of missile firings last year.

Kim's moves indicate that he will continue his provocative series of weapons tests this year, despite US-led pressure campaigns to rein in his nuclear ambitions. Regional tensions over the North's nuclear programme are likely to persist, but some experts believe Kim will eventually try to use his expanded arsenal to extract concessions such as sanctions relief from his adversaries.

“They are now determined to isolate and suffocate (North Korea), which is unprecedented in human history,” Kim said at a recently concluded ruling party meeting, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

“The current situation necessitates redoubling efforts to massively beef up military muscle in order to fully guarantee (the country's) sovereignty, security and fundamental interests,” he added.

Kim accused South Korea of being “hell-bent on imprudent and dangerous arms buildup” and openly brags about its war preparations with North Korea. This, according to Kim, emphasises the need to mass-produce battlefield tactical nuclear weapons and calls for an exponential increase in the country's nuclear arsenal, KCNA reported.

Kim also assigned another ICBM system “whose main mission is quick nuclear counter-strike.” It was unclear which weapons system Kim was referring to, but North Korea's previously tested intercontinental ballistic missiles demonstrated their potential to reach the US mainland.

Kim accused the US of frequently deploying nuclear strike means in South Korea, boosting trilateral military cooperation with South Korea and Japan and pushing for the formation of a regional military bloc akin to NATO.

Kim has promised to introduce a variety of weapons systems in recent years, including tactical nuclear weapons and a military reconnaissance satellite. A multi-warhead missile, a more agile solid-fueled ICBM, an underwater-launched nuclear missile and a hypersonic weapon are among the other weapons he desires.

Outside concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme have grown since the North passed a new law last year authorising the use of nuclear weapons in a variety of situations and openly threatening to use its nuclear weapons first.

Kim reiterated that threat during his speech at the party meeting.

According to Kim, our nuclear force's first mission is to deter war and maintain peace and stability. If it is unable to deter, it will carry out the second mission, which will not be defensive in nature.

Last year, North Korea conducted over 70 missile tests. The North's testing spree indicated that the country is likely emboldened by its progressing nuclear programme, though whether the country has operational nuclear missiles is still up for debate.

The North's growing nuclear threat has prompted the United States, South Korea and Japan to strengthen their trilateral security cooperation. The US military has also warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea on the US or its allies and partners would “mean the end of that regime.”

North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday.

North Korea's state media confirmed Sunday that it conducted tests of its super-large multiple rocket launcher to assess its capability. According to KCNA, three shells fired from the launcher on Saturday precisely hit an island target off the country's eastern coast.

According to the report, North Korea fired another shell from the launcher into its eastern waters on Sunday.

Because of their trajectories, ranges and other characteristics, weapons fired from the launcher are classified as ballistic missiles by outside experts.

The North's missile launch for the second day in a row could be a reaction to rival South Korea's recent rocket test in connection with its plan to establish space-based surveillance to better monitor North Korea. South Korea's military said on Friday that it tested a solid-fueled rocket, a type of space launch vehicle that it plans to use to place its first spy satellite into orbit in the coming years.

Animosities between the rival Koreas have escalated since early last week when South Korea accused North Korea of flying drones across their heavily fortified border for the first time in five years and dispatched its own drones to the North.

South Korea admitted it had failed to shoot down any of the five North Korean drones discovered south of the border. South Korea, on the other hand, has vowed to strengthen its air defence network and respond harshly to future North Korean provocations.