(4th LD) N. Korean leader vows to 'preemptively' contain nuclear threats by hostile forces

All News 13:33 April 30, 2022

(ATTN: ADDS photo)
By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need to bolster the country's military power to "preemptively and thoroughly contain" nuclear threats from hostile forces, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday.

He met with top military commanders who organized a massive street parade in Pyongyang earlier this week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

Kim was quoted as calling on his military commanders to maintain the "absolute superiority" of the armed forces and constantly develop in order to "preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) takes a group photo with top military commanders at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, in this photo captured from the website of the North's official Korean Central News Agency on April 30, 2022. The commanders organized a military parade in Pyongyang on April 25 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, wearing a white marshal uniform, waves to soldiers during a photo session on April 27, 2022, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on April 29. The soldiers participated in a military parade in Pyongyang on April 25 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

He emphasized that the "tremendous offensive power and the overwhelming military muscle" that can't be beaten is the "lifeline" for security guarantee in the current world where a force clashes with another fiercely and strength is needed to preserve "dignity, rights and interests," the KCNA added.

Kim also called on the military leaders to "boldly open up a new stage of development" of the armed forces during the meeting held at the office building of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee in Pyongyang.

He then had a photo session with them including Pak Jong-chon, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, and Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil.

The KCNA did not specify the date of the event. However, it usually carries reports on Kim's public activities a day later.

The parade was held in the North's capital Monday to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA), during which strategic weapons including the Hwangsong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) were showcased.

At the parade, Kim vowed to further strengthen his regime's nuclear capabilities and warned any forces that seek to violate the "fundamental interests" of the North will be met with the country's nuclear forces.