North Korea to launch new satellites, build drones as it warns war inevitable
- Leader Kim Jong-un slams US policy for making war a ‘realistic reality’ and says he has ordered the military to prepare to ‘pacify the entire territory of South Korea’
- Kim’s speech comes ahead of a year that will see pivotal elections in both South Korea and the US, as he also rules out the possibility of unifying with the South
North Korea vowed to launch three new spy satellites, build military drones, and boost its nuclear arsenal in 2024 as leader Kim Jong-un said US policy was making war inevitable, state media reported on Sunday.
Kim lashed out at Washington in lengthy remarks wrapping up five days of ruling party meetings that set economic, military and foreign policy goals for the coming year.
“Because of reckless moves by the enemies to invade us, it is a fait accompli that a war can break out at any time on the Korean peninsula,” he said, according to state news agency KCNA.
He ordered the military to prepare to “pacify the entire territory of South Korea”, including with nuclear bombs if necessary, in response to any attack.
Kim’s speech comes ahead of a year that will see pivotal elections in both South Korea and the United States.