North Korea calling itself a nuclear state should worry friends and foes
Kim Jong Un expressed deep reservations about the emergence of what he termed a 'triangular military alliance' involving the US, South Korea, and Japan. (Photo: Getty/Reuters)
There is not a single boring day in North Korea under Kim Jong Un's leadership. A week after returning from his armored train trip to Russia, he declares that the isolated nation has amended its constitution.
Kim stated that North Korea will now be known as a nuclear state. This announcement was made during a State People's Assembly meeting presided over by the country's Supreme Leader.
"The DPRK's nuclear force-building policy has been made permanent as the basic law of the state, which no one is allowed to flout with anything," the KCNA news agency quoted Kim as saying.
What happened
At the assembly meeting held over two days, Kim Jong Un emphasized that North Korea's nuclear force-building policy has now become a permanent feature of the state, one that must not be challenged by anyone, as reported by AFP. This marks a substantial shift in North Korea's constitutional stance, firmly enshrining its status as a nuclear-armed nation.
Over the past year, the DPRK has passed laws solidifying its nuclear weapons state status, making it "irreversible" and permitting the pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons. With the inclusion of this status in the constitution itself, prospects for denuclearization appear even dimmer.
Kim Jong Un also expressed concerns about the formation of what he called a "triangular military alliance" involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan, characterising it as the "Asian-version NATO" and a root cause of war and aggression, as reported by AFP.
Why the amendment?
This constitutional amendment is a response to a year marked by a record number of weapons tests by North Korea, intensifying tensions within the region.
The international community watches with growing unease, fearing North Korea's potential resumption of nuclear tests-a development not seen since 2017.
The country has conducted a total of six nuclear tests since 2006.
Kim Jong Un's concerns
During the assembly, Kim Jong Un expressed deep reservations about the emergence of what he termed a "triangular military alliance" involving the United States, South Korea, and Japan, as reported by AFP.
He likened it to an "Asian-version NATO" and identified it as a primary instigator of conflict and aggression.
Global implications
This constitutional amendment comes amid diplomatic gridlock between North and South Korea, with their relations at their lowest point in years. In response to North Korea's actions, the United States and South Korea have escalated their defense cooperation, engaging in joint exercises and naval drills with Japan.
The DPRK's assertion of nuclear statehood within its constitution underscores its unwavering commitment to maintaining its nuclear capabilities, posing formidable challenges to regional stability and international efforts aimed at addressing the nuclear issue.
As North Korea takes this bold constitutional step, the world anxiously awaits further developments in the Korean Peninsula and grapples with the implications for global security.
North Korea's nuclear program
North Korea's nuclear program had its inception in the early 1980s, culminating in the development of a nuclear weapon by the late 1990s. Subsequently, North Korea has conducted a series of nuclear tests, with the most recent occurring in 2017.
The international community has vehemently denounced North Korea's nuclear program, leading the United Nations to impose numerous sanctions in an effort to halt its progress.
However, North Korea has persisted in advancing its nuclear capabilities, currently estimated to include a stockpile of 20-30 nuclear warheads, along with the development of various missiles designed for their delivery. These missile systems encompass:
Hwasong-5: A short-range ballistic missile with a reach of 300-500 km.
Hwasong-6: A short-range ballistic missile with a range of 600-700 km.
Hwasong-7: A medium-range ballistic missile with a range of 1,000-1,300 km.
Hwasong-9: An intermediate-range ballistic missile covering a distance of 5,500 km.
Hwasong-10: Another intermediate-range ballistic missile spanning 5,500 km.
Hwasong-11: An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of 13,000 km.
Hwasong-12: An ICBM with a range of 13,000 km.
Hwasong-14: An ICBM with a range of 13,000 km.
Hwasong-15: An ICBM with a range of 13,000 km.
Hwasong-17: An ICBM with an extended range of 15,000 km.
Regarding nuclear tests, North Korea has conducted six since 2006, with their respective estimated yields as follows:
October 9, 2006: Estimated yield of 0.5-1 kiloton.
May 25, 2009: Estimated yield of 2-4 kilotons.
February 12, 2013: Estimated yield of 6-7 kilotons.
January 6, 2016: Estimated yield of 10-12 kilotons.
September 9, 2016: Estimated yield of 20-25 kilotons.
September 3, 2017: Estimated yield of 250-300 kilotons.
The 2017 nuclear test, in particular, marked a significant milestone as it was the most potent conducted by North Korea and introduced a thermonuclear weapon, a far more formidable type of nuclear device compared to an atomic bomb.