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  • 04 Oct, 2024

Chairman Kim has pledged to continue modernizing the military after conducting record weapons tests in 2023.

North Korea says it will continue its military modernization program, which has seen record weapons tests this year, including launching three military surveillance satellites in 2024, building military drones, and expanding its nuclear arsenal. North Korea launched a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the third time last November and also launched its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month.

After a five-day party meeting chaired by President Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency said: "The task of launching three additional reconnaissance satellites in 2024 has been announced as one of the key policies." Decision from 2024. . . Kim ended Saturday's talks by blaming the United States, which he said was making war inevitable.

Chairman Kim said, "War could break out on the Korean Peninsula at any time because of the enemy's careless attempt to invade us," the Korean Central News Agency reported. In response to this attack, he ordered the military to prepare "to pacify our entire territory with nuclear bombs, if necessary."

Analysts say North Korea wants to continue its policy of military pressure to expand its influence in the run-up to the November presidential election in the United States, where former President Donald Trump is hoping to return to power. When President Trump was last in power, he held two summit meetings with President Kim in the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea, which attracted attention but failed to find progress.

US President Joe Biden's administration has deepened political and military ties with South Korea and imposed new sanctions as North Korea conducts more weapons tests. The United States has also deployed nuclear submarines to South Korea and long-range bombers in exercises with Seoul and Japan.

"North Korea may be waiting for the US presidential election to see what consequences its provocations will have for the next administration," Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, wrote in an email. Chairman Kim said these weapons have completely transformed South Korea into America's "number one military base and nuclear weapons depot," adding that the United States cannot ignore these deployments.

Major General Kim said: "If you look carefully at the military actions of the enemy at the time of the conflict... "The word 'war' has become a reality rather than an abstract concept," he said. Kim has said he has no choice but to pursue his nuclear ambitions and develop closer ties with other countries that oppose the United States. North Korea has close relations with China and Russia. South Koreans will also go to a general election in April, which could affect the domestic and international agenda of conservative President Yoon Seok-you, who has gone on the offensive against North Korea.

The National Intelligence Service warned on the 23rd: "There is a high possibility that North Korea will carry out unexpected military provocations or cyber-attacks in 2024 when political situations related to elections are expected." In his speech at the end of the party meeting, Chairman Kim cited an "uncontrollable crisis" and said he would no longer pursue reconciliation and unification with South Korea.

This year, inter-Korean relations deteriorated sharply. North Korea's launch of a reconnaissance satellite prompted South Korea to partially suspend a 2018 military agreement to help ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In response, North Korea said it would move more troops and military equipment to the border, in line with the 2018 agreement.

The Korean Central News Agency said: "I think it would be wrong to consider those who declared us 'enemies' as colleagues in reconciliation and unification from now on." "Not suitable" for Korea.

North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear state last year and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear program, which it sees as essential to its survival.

After the first nuclear test in 2006, the United Nations Security Council passed numerous resolutions calling for an end to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The last trial took place in 2017.

Kim has pledged to increase his nuclear and missile forces, develop unmanned aerial vehicles, expand his submarine fleet, and develop electronic warfare capabilities by 2024. Still, Eisley said that the country would be left far behind South Korea even with these advances. "It is believed that the Kim regime can violate the sanctions of an unstable UN, but despite the support of Moscow and Beijing, Pyongyang cannot agree.

"Seoul is forward through space and aerial drones, so despite the effort to start the cyber hacking and thorny satellites in Node-Correa, we will remain behind the technology and military information in the new year."

It has been a few months since the successful North Korea began and a few months after Kim visited Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. South Korean officials said Russian help may have contributed to the success of the third mission. South Korea and the United States are also concerned that North Korea has sold weapons to Russia to gain technological know-how.