Kim Jong Un Criticizes South Korea's Nuclear Submarine Push, Claims Situation 'Extremely Worsened'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has claimed that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is 'extremely worsening,' citing South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and the activities of the US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). He reaffirmed his policy of continuously expanding and strengthening nuclear forces and thoroughly exercising the status of a nuclear weapons state.

In his concluding remarks at the enlarged meeting of the 9th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong Un condemned the military buildup efforts by the United States and South Korea in the region. He defined the US-ROK NCG as a 'nuclear war organization aimed at attacking our republic,' asserting that it was driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula towards nuclear war. This was reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun on June 23.

Kim reaffirmed the Workers' Party's principle of struggle against the enemy, designating South Korea as the 'most hostile country.' He ordered an acceleration of state defense enhancement projects, including the completion of fortifications along the southern border and the construction of naval bases. He also ordered efforts to expedite the construction of a 10,000-ton strategic guided missile cruiser and to pursue the establishment and modernization of defense industry enterprises. The Rodong Sinmun reported this on June 23.

Kim Jong Un's push to strengthen North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities is highly likely to escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and create obstacles to improving inter-Korean and North Korea-US relations.