North Korea Threatens Nuclear Weapons In Response To South Korea

What local media reports "trash" fall from balloons flying over Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, as they are also reportedly sent from North Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

In a recent exchange of rhetoric between North and South Korea, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has threatened to use nuclear weapons and destroy South Korea permanently if provoked. This comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that Kim's regime would collapse if he attempted to use nuclear arms.

The heightened animosities stem from North Korea's recent disclosure of a nuclear facility and continued missile tests. Observers predict that North Korea's parliament will soon declare a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula, rejecting reconciliation with South Korea and establishing new national borders.

Kim Jong Un stated that his military would not hesitate to use all offensive forces, including nuclear weapons, if South Korea encroached upon North Korea's sovereignty. In response, President Yoon showcased South Korea's powerful Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile, warning of a strong response to any nuclear threats from North Korea.

Since adopting an escalatory nuclear doctrine in 2022, Kim has repeatedly threatened preemptive use of nuclear weapons. However, experts believe it is unlikely due to the military imbalance between North Korea and the U.S. and its allies. South Korea recently signed a defense guideline with the U.S. to integrate their capabilities against North Korea's nuclear program.

South Korea warns of collapse if North Korea uses nuclear arms.

Kim Jong Un threatens to use nuclear weapons against South Korea.

North Korea reveals nuclear facility and conducts missile tests.

The animosities between the Koreas have escalated, with missile tests and military exercises intensifying. Communication channels and exchange programs have been stalled since 2019, following the collapse of U.S.-North Korea diplomacy. Kim has called for rewriting North Korea's constitution to eliminate the idea of peaceful unification with the South and designate it as a principal enemy.

North Korea has also challenged the sea boundary drawn at the end of the Korean War and launched balloons carrying trash into South Korea. This has led to South Korea resuming anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts at the border.

Overall, tensions between North and South Korea remain high, with both sides engaging in provocative actions and rhetoric.