Chairman of Worker’s Party of Korea, Kim
Jong-un, declared for the first time on Monday that North Korea completed
deployment of intercontinental ballistic missile that could strike the mainland
of United States. Asahi Shimbun reported it on Wednesday. Kim also expressed
his intention to have discussion with South Korea for sending delegation to
Pyeongchang Olympic next month. It is a new attempt of North Korea to separate
United States and South Korea with application of different attitude on
important issues.
In his new year statement, Kim insisted on
enhanced military capability of North Korea. “We have credible war deterrence
that could not be undermined by any power,” told Kim, denying US capability of
having war on his nation. “Whole mainland of United States is within the range
of our nuclear strike,” stressed Kim, “and button of launching nuclear weapon
is always on my desk in my working room, and they have to frankly realize it as
not a threat but a reality.”
Kim ordered his nation acceleration of
producing or deployment of nuclear weapons and missiles. He also encouraged
development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which would be able to
load nuclear warhead, saying “We should always maintain nuclear retaliatory
posture.” No reference to nuclear and missile moratorium was made. Asahi
elaborated Kim’s speech as buying time for nuclear and missile development by
emphasizing deterrence. Kim required to give up the joint military exercise by
US and South Korea and required South Korea not to join US conspiracy for
nuclear war but deal with their effort to reducing tension.
On Pyeonchang Olympic, which would be the
greatest event for national prestige of South Korea this year, Kim hoped
success of it as an event for upraising ethnic status, indicating North Korea’s
participation. Receiving request for meeting, South Korean Minister of
Unification, Cho Myung-gyon, proposed a meeting between high-level officers in
House of Peace, located on South Korean side of Panmunjom armistice line, next
week. Although North Korea has not applied for a pair of figure skating by the time
limit, the organization committee of the Olympic indicated that the registration
could be done until 29th of this month.
South Korea’s sudden approach to the North
may affect bilateral relationship with Japan. Moon Jae-in administration is
going to redefine the bilateral agreement with Japan on comfort woman issue
later this month. Moon looks like balancing diplomatic relation between US-Japan
and China-North Korea. Deteriorated relationship between Japan and South Korea only
works for interest of North Korea.
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