Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters). -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised to increase the development of its nuclear arsenal and he was in charge of a large military parade that featured intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported Tuesday.

The state news agency KCNA stated that the parade occurred Monday night as part of celebrations marking the 90th anniversary North Korea’s armed forces.

Pyongyang’s recent weapons test and display of military might have been accelerated as the denuclearization talks with America are in limbo and South Korea is governed by a conservative new administration.

Officials from the U.S., South Korea and South Korea claim there is evidence of construction at North Korea’s sole known nuclear testing site. This facility has been closed since 2018. It could indicate that Pyongyang might be planning to restart nuclear weapon testing.

Kim said to the group, according to KCNA that “The nuclear force of our Republic must be fully ready to fulfil their responsibility and put their unique counter-deterrent in action at any moment.”

According to him, the North’s primary mission is deterrence. However, its use cannot be restricted to that mission.

Kim stated, “If any force attempts to violate fundamental interests of the state,”

Hong Min is a Senior Fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification, Seoul. He said that Kim’s speech might signal a shift in his nuclear doctrine, leaving open the possibility for “nuclear initial use”.

Hong explained that he had not specified what constitutes the second mission or fundamental interests, but he implied more broadly that the nuke force could be used pre-emptively not only when under attack but in some circumstances.”

Yang Moo-jin is a Seoul-based professor of North Korean Studies. He said Kim could have made the remarks to Yoon Suk-yeol’s incoming South Korean government. Yoon Suk-yeol has previously warned of pre-emptive strikes if there is an imminent North Korean attack.

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Yoon is inaugurated on May 10. His transition team criticised Pyongyang’s offensive weapon development while pursuing talks.

Won Il Hee, deputy spokesperson told reporters that while North Korea outwardly requested peace and dialog over the past five-years, in fact the parade was focused on developing means to harm not only the Korean Peninsula but Northeast Asia as well.”

He said, “Securing North Korea’s capability to deter its grave and real threat” and vowed to strengthen an alliance with America and increase Seoul’s deterrence.

Kim, dressed in a white emperor-style suit and smiling, shook hands at senior officials as the Hwasong-17, North Korea’s biggest known ICBM, made its way through the parade. This was captured on state TV footage.

Officials in Seoul believe the missile exploded mid-air after being unveiled and tested for the first time last month.

Video showed what appeared to have been hypersonic missiles as well submarine-launched bombistic missiles, (SLBMs), that were being loaded onto trucks and launch vehicles.

Kim saluted a team of individuals wearing orange hazardous materials suits and gas masks. This is an apparent symbol for anti-coronavirus initiatives.

It also featured rows of standard weapons, such as prototype tanks or rocket launchers. There was also an army of hundreds of thousands of soldiers who chanted “Long Life!” Kim Jong Un.

North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles is prohibited by United Nations Security Council resolutions. It is also subject to economic sanctions.

The Pentagon in Washington stated that North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear missile programs pose a grave threat to international security.

A Pentagon spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Marty Meiners said, “We will concentrate on reducing threat to the United States, our allies as well as improving lives of the North Korean and South Korean people.”

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said that Kim’s comments during the military parade reinforces his assessment that DPRK is a threat to international stability and security as well as the non-proliferation regime.

Kim presided over the launch of what was described by state media as short-range missiles with nuclear capability.

Last week’s visit to Seoul by the U.S. Envoy to North Korea Sung Kim made a commitment to respond “responsibly and decisively” to provocation while expressing his willingness to work with Pyongyang, “anywhere, regardless of conditions”.

North Korea stated that it is open for diplomacy. However, it rejected Washington’s offer as insincere. The North also attacked what it called “hostile policy” and condemned joint military exercises and the sanctions.