North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un said his forces would use nuclear weapons “without hesitation” if Pyongyang’s territory was attacked by the South and its ally the United States, state media reported on Friday.
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“‘If’ the enemy … attempt to use armed forces encroaching upon the sovereignty of the DPRK … the DPRK would use without hesitation all the offensive forces it has possessed, including nuclear weapons,” the KCNA news agency quoted him as saying, using the acronym for the North’s official name.
Kim was speaking on Wednesday while inspecting a special forces military training base in the west of Pyongyang, KCNA reported.
The remarks came after South Korea staged a military parade earlier this week, with its President Yoon Suk-yeol threatening “the end of the North Korean regime” if Pyongyang used nuclear weapons.
“If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face the resolute and overwhelming response of our military and the US and Republic of Korea alliance,” Yoon said.
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“That day will be the end of the North Korean regime,” he added, addressing thousands of service members gathered at Seoul Air Base for the event.
In response to those remarks, Kim branded the South Korean leader a “puppet” and “an abnormal man”, KCNA reported.