Dictator’s readiness command
North Korea breathes war
The dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has ordered the country to prepare for war to be accelerated. However, currently, the socialist Korea is struggling with increasing food insecurity and internal problems.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea must be prepared for war. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, announced this on Friday, December 28. Kim ordered the only party in the North Korean dictatorship, the Workers’ Party of Korea, to expedite preparations for war in response to what he called unprecedented confrontational actions by the United States. He instructed the military-industrial sector to arm itself with weapons of war and nuclear weapons.
In the same speech, according to the official news agency KCNA, the leader of North Korea assured that Pyongyang will expand its strategic cooperation with independent and anti-imperialist countries to confront its main enemies, referring to the United States and its allies on the global stage.
The provocative remarks of North Korea’s third dictator, Kim Jong-un, were made at a time when the country is struggling to overcome native food insecurity. However, the Pyongyang government is trying to hide its destructive effects on the population or at least interpret them in a positive light.
Anti-America Axis
Kim’s statements were made during a general session of the Central Committee of the party, a few hours after South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited a military unit stationed on the front line in the eastern province of Yeoncheon.
According to South Korean news agency Yohnap, after visiting this military base, Moon Jae-in asked the soldiers to take retaliatory action immediately and decisively if they observe any provocative movements from North Korea without wasting time. The South Korean President told the army, ‘I want you to immediately and firmly break the will of the provocative enemy.’
Kim’s reference to countries hostile to the United States, with which Pyongyang intends to strengthen relations, is part of the phase of rapprochement with Moscow, which reached its peak during Kim’s visit to Russia in September and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington openly accuses Pyongyang of providing military equipment to Moscow for use in the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, Russia is also providing the necessary technical support to North Korea to advance its military capabilities. Putin has also promised to assist Kim in the development of North Korea’s satellite technology, especially after North Korea’s failed attempts to launch two satellites into orbit in 2023.
Pyongyang suffers from hunger
During a plenary session of the Central Committee of the ruling party in North Korea, Kim outlined the economic goals for 2024, which he called a defining year for the implementation of the five-year development project. National media reports that Kim has emphasized the importance of stabilizing agricultural production at a high level, as well as setting goals for key industrial sectors.
Food insecurity has been a long-standing issue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which has experienced severe food shortages in recent decades, particularly in the 1990s, resulting in the deaths of millions of people.
Despite heavy censorship, international reports indicate that historical food insecurity is caused by both political responsibilities and natural disasters. According to several international observers, the closure of borders during the COVID-19 pandemic may have worsened the situation. However, it is estimated that agricultural production in North Korea increased in the past year compared to 2022, partly due to favorable weather conditions.
A South Korean official stated in an interview with Reuters that overall production in North Korea is still much lower than the total production needed to address chronic food shortages in the country.
Escalation of tension
The 9th plenary session of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of North Korea began on Wednesday, December 26. In recent years, this political assembly has been used to announce decisive steps and important measures. In 2023, this meeting took place at the end of an eventful year for socialist Korea, during which nuclear development policies were enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Although this action is mostly symbolic, it reinforces the idea that North Korea intends to present itself as a nuclear power on the international stage, disregarding the key request of the United States and its allies for nuclear disarmament or denuclearization.
Furthermore, last year North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, which was essentially the latest display of North Korea’s strength during a period of intense tension with Washington.
In late November, after the United States strongly criticized North Korea for launching its first spy satellite into orbit, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, also rejected the United States’ request to return to diplomacy in response to this criticism.
Like all other dictators, Kim Jong-un is not unfamiliar with using strong and passionate speeches for propaganda purposes, so his recent statements should not lead us to believe that the conflict on the Korean Peninsula is ready to reignite.
However, the strengthening of the US-South Korea alliance in nuclear deterrence in 2023 has raised new concerns for the Pyongyang government. This government takes the latest military developments very seriously, including the rotation of US nuclear submarines and Seoul’s involvement in strategic arms management. However, this new round of military reinforcement in the two Koreas will not enhance stability on the peninsula, but rather increase the risk of destabilization and imbalance.
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