North Korean leader uses South-U.S. 'nuclear threat' to justify arms buildup

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un criticized South Korea’s efforts to acquire nuclear-powered submarines and reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to strengthening its nuclear forces during a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, its state media Rodong Sinmun reported on Tuesday. 

The remarks appear aimed at shifting responsibility for rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula onto South Korea and the United States while justifying North Korea’s recent measures to sever ties with the South, including military fortification projects near the North-South border. 

“This year, too, the U.S. and the ROK are pushing forward with the ROK’s possession of a nuclear submarine while getting ever more undisguised in their moves towards the reinforcement and modernization of armed forces in the region,” Kim said during the second Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party held over three days beginning June 20.

The ROK refers to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

"They have so often staged military drills and espionage acts against the DPRK, extremely aggravating the situation in the Korean peninsula," Kim said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The plenary session is one of North Korea’s most important decision-making bodies, responsible for discussing and approving major policies between party congresses, which are typically held every five years.

Kim's references to recent working-level consultations between Seoul and Washington on implementing bilateral security agreements, as well as to military expansion and modernization, appeared to criticize efforts by South Korea and the United States to broaden the alliance's role through modernization initiatives, including measures that could effectively serve as a check on China.

They may also reflect an attempt to underscore North Korea's strategic position as a player capable of influencing not only affairs on the Korean Peninsula but also the broader security landscape in Northeast Asia, backed by its ties with China and Russia.

Kim's remarks came despite the South Korean and U.S. militaries scaling back this year’s Freedom Shield joint military exercise in March.

“What is more dangerous is that the U.S. and the ROK held again military confab of the ‘Nuclear Consultative Group’ (NCG), a nuclear war body whose purpose is to attack the DPRK with nuclear elements such as nuclear and conventional integration posture,” he said.

“This clearly proves the criminal nature of the body pushing the situation in the Korean peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war.”

South Korea and the United States issued a joint statement on June 11 following the sixth NCG meeting in Seoul, reaffirming their shared goal of North Korea’s denuclearization. The NCG was created under the Washington Declaration announced at the 2023 summit between the two countries.

Analysts say Pyongyang is attempting to justify its continued development of nuclear and missile capabilities as well as broader military modernization efforts by portraying South Korea and the United States as the source of rising tensions.

“North Korea is not treating South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines as a standalone issue but is linking it with the NCG to amplify a narrative of a ‘South Korea-U.S. nuclear threat,’” said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

“It is also trying to exploit the growing geopolitical divide in international politics to further solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state.”

Kim appeared to reinforce the analysts' view, saying North Korea would strengthen its deterrence capabilities more aggressively in response to what he described as the “prevailing geopolitical crisis.”

Faster military buildup, border fortifications

Kim also reiterated North Korea’s hard-line policy toward South Korea as “the most hostile state.”

“It is essential to thoroughly adhere to the principle of struggle against the enemy set forth by our Party, which defined the ROK as the most hostile state,” he said.

Kim ordered officials to accelerate construction of a 10,000-ton strategic guided-missile cruiser approved by the Central Military Commission on April 4.

He also instructed authorities to complete ongoing fortification projects along the southern border to a high standard and build new naval bases for the country’s fleets.

The remarks suggest North Korea is using its own interpretation of South Korea’s military initiatives as justification for accelerating a wide range of military projects, including the expansion of nuclear and missile forces as well as conventional land and naval capabilities.

Kim also stressed the need to continue increasing North Korea’s strategic military assets and to “dynamically carry out the work to increase powerful defense assets without pause in our own way and with a goal of overtaking the world,” according to the newspaper.

The meeting unanimously recognized that to steadily expand and strengthen the nuclear forces and to thoroughly exercise the position of a nuclear weapons state, the newspaper said.

Kim stressed, “With the nuclear technology as a basis, more extensive, innovative and encouraging plans would be carried out with increasing speed.”

His call for the completion of southern border fortifications has sparked speculation among military observers that North Korea may be seeking tighter military control over areas north of the military demarcation line in the demilitarized zone, or DMZ.

In May, Kim convened a meeting of military commanders and emphasized strengthening frontline units along the southern border and turning the border area into an "impregnable fortress."

Senior party officials replaced

Kim also carried out a major reshuffle of senior officials.

The move came after North Korea recently referred a military official to judicial authorities on corruption charges and replaced the head of the powerful Organization and Guidance Department only four months after the appointment.

Kim Jae-ryong, who was appointed as secretary of the Party Central Committee and director of the department at the Ninth Party Congress in February, was removed from all positions, according to Rodong Sinmun.

He was replaced by Jo Yong-won, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly and one of Kim’s closest aides.

Jo had been appointed chairman of the Standing Committee and first vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission in March, but is now returning to oversee the party’s organizational affairs about three months later.

The newspaper also reported that Han Kwang-sang was removed as director of the Light Industry Department and replaced by Ri Ho-rim.

Experts say the personnel changes may be linked to Kim’s campaign to harden party discipline and crack down on corruption.

The newspaper also reported that Major Gen. Pak Hui-chol, vice director of organizational affairs of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was booked for alleged corruption — a rare disclosure by North Korea.

“The appointment of Jo, who has extensive experience as organization secretary and strong control over party affairs, reflects Kim’s determination to strengthen organizational discipline and concentrate resources on key policy goals,” said Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

“The simultaneous replacement of the light industry chief and a senior military political officer suggests a broader effort to reorganize officials responsible for economic management and political control within the military.”

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]