. Military Space News .
NUKEWARS
North Korea's Kim says US is 'root cause' of tensions
By Sunghee Hwang
Seoul (AFP) Oct 12, 2021

North Korean leader Kim Jong has blamed the United States for tensions on the peninsula and accused the South of hypocrisy, state media reported Tuesday, as he opened an exhibition showcasing his nuclear-armed country's weapons.

The US is the "root cause" of instability, he said in an address to the "Self-Defence 2021" display, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, which have made rapid progress under Kim.

In 2017, it tested missiles that can reach the whole of the continental United States and carried out its most powerful nuclear explosion to date, and Pyongyang says it needs its arsenal to protect itself against a US invasion.

Analysts say North Korea is seeking to normalise its status as a nuclear power.

The Biden administration has repeatedly stated that it has no hostile intent towards Pyongyang, but Kim said: "I am very curious if there are people or countries who believe that."

"There is no basis in their actions for believing that it is not hostile," he added, according to KCNA, but insisted that the North's weapons were for self-defence and not aimed at any particular country.

Pictures carried by state media showed Kim at the exhibition in front of the gigantic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) revealed at a night-time military parade last year.

He was also shown sitting smoking with senior officials and officers, and huge photo portraits of the leader in military uniform hung in the exhibition hall.

His address came after North Korea in recent weeks tested a long-range cruise missile, a train-launched weapon, and what it said was a hypersonic warhead.

In 2018, Kim became the first North Korean leader ever to meet a sitting US president at the headline-grabbing Singapore summit.

But the talks process has been largely at a standstill since a second meeting in Hanoi the following year collapsed over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in return.

The Biden administration has said it is willing to meet North Korean officials at any time or place, without preconditions, in its efforts to seek denuclearisation.

Kim's comments and the show itself were intended to justify Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes as "part of its right to self-defence", said Park Won-gon, professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University.

"North Korea held the exhibition on purpose to claim that their weapons development programmes are no different from those of other countries," he told AFP.

- Party time -

Washington and Seoul are security allies and the United States stations around 28,500 troops in South Korea to defend it against its neighbour, which invaded in 1950.

The South and the United States held joint military exercises in August. The wargames always infuriate Pyongyang, which decries them as preparations for invasion.

Seoul is itself on a multi-billion-dollar drive to step up its military capabilities, successfully testing its first submarine-launched ballistic missile in September -- putting South Korea among an elite group of nations with proven SLBM technology -- and revealing a supersonic cruise missile.

Last week, Pyongyang and Seoul reconnected their cross-border hotline in a sign of thawing ties, with only a few months left in office for South Korea's pro-engagement President Moon Jae-in.

But Kim accused Seoul of "reckless ambition" and a "two-faced, illogical" attitude.

Their "unrestricted and dangerous attempts to strengthen military power are destroying the military balance on the Korean peninsula and increasing military instability and danger", he added.

The exhibition is part of the commemorations for the anniversary of the foundation of the ruling Workers' Party, and included aerobatics flights and martial arts displays.

Pyongyang closed its borders early last year to protect itself against the coronavirus pandemic that first emerged in neighbouring China, its key diplomatic ally and main provider of trade and aid.

North Korea insists it has had no cases of Covid-19 -- experts doubt the claim -- but the self-imposed blockade has isolated it more effectively than any sanctions regime and has hit its economy badly.

Kim referred to the "grim situation" in a lengthy speech at the weekend to mark the party anniversary, calling for discipline and loyalty.

A United Nations expert panel said this month that the North had continued to pursue its weapons development despite its economic travails.


Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


NUKEWARS
UN rights report warns of N. Korea 'starvation risk'
Seoul (AFP) Oct 13, 2021
North Korea's most vulnerable are "at risk of starvation" with the economy worsening due to a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, and UN sanctions imposed over the country's nuclear programmes should be eased, a UN human rights expert said Wednesday. The impoverished nation has been behind a rigid blockade since early last year to protect itself from the pandemic, with the economy suffering and trade with key partner China dwindling to a trickle. In June, state-run KCTV admitted North Korea was f ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

NUKEWARS
Anti-missile defences tested to protect 'sensitive' sites: Iran

SBIRS GEO-6 Space Vehicle completes production

Global missile defense from space got more affordable

US House approves $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome

NUKEWARS
Israel expects 2,000 rockets a day in any war with Hezbollah: army

China tested new space capability with hypersonic missile

Lockheed Martin opens intelligent, advanced hypersonic strike production facility

Russia test fires hypersonic missile from submerged submarine

NUKEWARS
ESA and UK Air Traffic Services selects CGI to develop 5G for UAV positioning

HAPS reaches new heights

Flying sushi: Israel readies for delivery drone traffic jams

Cutting-edge drones displayed at show

NUKEWARS
Space Systems Command awards $46.5 million contract for meshONE-Terrestrial

Cesiumastro deploys active phased array experimental satellites

US Space Force to take over SATCOM operations from Army, Navy

Notre Dame to lead $25 million SpectrumX project; first NSF Spectrum Innovation Initiative Center

NUKEWARS
Army tests MK-22 Precision Sniper Rifle at Fort Bragg ahead of fielding

Pentagon asks employees to report cases of strange, sudden sickness

Defense Department establishes supply chain resiliency working group

Kazakh defence minister resigns after deadly depot blasts

NUKEWARS
Czechs sign deal to buy air defence system from Israel

Turkey warns Greece-France arms deal threatens 'stability'

US urges Turkey not to buy more Russian arms

France signs deal to supply howitzers to Czech Army

NUKEWARS
US defence chief in Georgia for military talks

Citing Russian occupation, U.S. signs new defense pact with Georgia

Russia closes NATO missions as ties plunge to new low

Eyeing Russia, US defense chief heads to Black Sea region

NUKEWARS
Striking Gold: A Pathway to Stable, High-Activity Catalysts from Gold Nanoclusters

Tracking the movement of a single nanoparticle

Researchers demonstrate technique for recycling nanowires in electronics









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.