North Korean President Kim Jong Un has said he will keep working to expand the country’s military capability, which is under threat from closer defence cooperation between the US and South Korea, and what is now called an “increasing security threat,” he added.
At a high-level military meeting, Kim said North Korea needs to strengthen its defence posture and advance new military technologies. His remarks come at a time of growing military coordination, joint exercises and strategic cooperation between Washington and Seoul.
Kim told a state-run media conference that the armed forces must be prepared to respond to the security challenges of the nation's economy and people in the country's armed forces. He’s also calling for continued investments in technological development of advanced weapons, military readiness and strategic deterrence, he said.
It is in line with North Korea’s longstanding concerns about joint military drills that the United States and South Korea carry out along with each other. North Korea has long protested that joint military exercises are provocative and a threat to regional stability. But the United States and South Korea say their military cooperation is defensive and they are in place to keep the peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Over the past few months, Washington and Seoul have been collaborating more closely on joint military exercises, sharing intelligence, and discussing how to enhance deterrence against potential threats. North Korea views the new partnership as an existential threat to its national security interests.
Kim's recent comments show that despite international sanctions and diplomatic pressure, North Korea will continue to develop military capability, security analysts say. North Korea has poured billions of dollars into missile technology, strategic weapons development, and defence infrastructure in recent years as part of a broader military modernisation plan.
And the intensified focus on military expansion is only going to make it more difficult to restart diplomatic dialogue between North Korea and the international community. Negotiations over denuclearisation and regional security remain at a stalemate, with both sides sticking to the same positions.
The analysts say that continued military buildups and rhetoric will trigger tension throughout East Asia, and regional observers fear that more military buildups and an escalation in rhetoric will cause further tension in East Asia, and there will be a situation of further escalation on the rise in tension. There are no immediate signs of conflict, but international experts say that diplomatic channels must remain open and clear communication channels are needed to minimise misunderstanding and prevent tension and escalation.
South Korean officials have maintained their commitment to national defence and regional stability, while U.S. leaders have continued to stress their security cooperation with Seoul. Both countries have regularly stressed that deterrence and preparedness are core to their defence systems.
In view of the region’s geopolitical competition, Kim’s promise to strengthen North Korea’s military will be a focal point of regional security debate. International interests will be watching for developments in the Korean Peninsula military and diplomatic efforts and policy decisions that will shape the security environment in the region and beyond.
