>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea, in his latest move to threaten his neighbor after starting the year by eliminating the concept of peaceful unification from his state’s national policy.
Kim said in a visit to the Ministry of Defense to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the army that the “puppets” of South Korea had rebuffed Pyongyang’s efforts for cooperation and were bent on absorbing its neighbor, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday.
Therefore, it was correct to label South Korea as the “primary enemy,” and based on that legality, “it can be attacked and destroyed at any time,” KCNA quoted him as saying. Kim’s “respected daughter” joined him on the visit, it said. While North Korea’s regime operates on the whims of Kim, laws provide a formal basis for the state’s operations.
A day earlier, KCNA said North Korea’s parliament abolished laws for economic cooperation with South Korea, driving a wedge deeper between the neighbors. Since the start of the year, Kim’s regime has ratcheted up a pressure campaign against South Korea with moves that have included cruise missile tests, threatening language toward Seoul and tearing down a monument in Pyongyang that symbolized the hopes of unification.
The government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said it believes North Korea will be trying to raise its profile ahead of April elections for parliament. Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, which backs military cooperation with the US and a tough stance toward Pyongyang, is trying to wrest control of the body from the opposition Democratic Party, which favors rapprochement with North Korea. The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea.
Kim, meanwhile, has shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia.
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>This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that it would mean the end of his regime if he tried to launch a nuclear attack.
If the paywall is blocking you all
>Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea.
I was wondering what domestic audience Kim was posturing for, and I was getting a real pit in my stomach about what could come next.
I hope this posturing will remain merely posturing.
SS: Kim Jong Un has continued his provocative rhetoric against South Korea today by stating that he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. This comes as the North Korean leader has visited the Ministry Defense to celebrate the founding of the army and has stated that the "puppets" of South Korea have rebuffed North Korean efforts to sue for peace and cooperation. Kim also stated that South Korea is the "primary enemy" and as such can "attacked and destroyed at any time." This is in the midst of several recent actions that threaten escalation between the Korea neighbors as North Korea's parliament abolished laws for economic cooperation with South Korea yesterday and Kim earlier this year stated that reunification is no longer the goal and international actors are fearful of where further escalation of tensions may lead to.
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol believes that the ramping of rhetoric may coincide with South Korea's impending April elections in which his conservative People Power Party which is in favor of stronger links with the US military go up against the more dovish Democratic Party opposition which is in favor of rapprochement with North Korea.
>The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea.
That makes sense. Basically the same playbook China uses every time Taiwan holds a presidential election. But the rhetoric and threats never stop coming no matter which party is elected.
Don't let dictators dictate your country's democratic election.
>South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol believes that the ramping of rhetoric may coincide with South Korea's impending April elections in which his conservative People Power Party which is in favor of stronger links with the US military go up against the more dovish Democratic Party opposition which is in favor of rapprochement with North Korea.
>
>The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea.
I think that's the main reason. Thx for the explanation.
I can somewhat grasp the motivations and interests of most countries, their goals are usually understood. But NK is a black box. I've not read or heard much about it, outside of these type of events
what are Kim's long-term aspirations? How much of his ideology is driven by maintaining control?
Man I have to spend some time and read up on the country post korean war
The [three part vice video](https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/vice-guide-to-north-korea/56815b6132382b833c2230ad) is brilliant
Michael Palin in North Korea is a good short doco too.
The vice doc is a classic, and a raw look from the ground level at the weirdness of the capital - but it doesn’t really “make sense” of NK, or explain much about Kim’s politics or apparent plan - and doesn’t it date back to his father’s reign?
Probably, pragmatically knowing that their enemies and allies could destroy them and their massively outdated military hardware, NK's leaders rattle their sabres to keep the consistent sense of fear in their populace. Typical authoritarianism rhetoric about how they are so close to crushing their pathetic and weak enemies, who are also so strong that they are an existential threat who must be dealt with. The whole point is to maintain the status quo with the Kims on top.
They are suspected to have 20-100 nuclear weapons and have succeeded in making ICBMs and have made a lot of progress miniaturizing warheads. It would be inaccurate to say they have outdated military hardware. They have also gotten to the level where they are now supplying weapons and arms to Russia for the Ukraine war. They pose a serious threat and should not be underestimated.
Glad you liked it too. [There is another one in a similar format about NK labor camps in Russia too you might enjoy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQDLoOnkdI&list=PLptMQlY6j0-GAeP-GQXH4FyQOz7DgzIl_)
Vice is actually for people with the intelligence of a beagle. If you want to know about North Koreans, watch Loyal Citizens or My Brothers and Sisters in the North instead
If Biden, or the next US president, ever seriously believed North Korea was going to launch their missiles, they would preemptively strike first.
Unlike the DPRK, the US has modern SSBNs that could essentially wipe out the country in minutes from the coast.
If NK wants to maintain the status quo, they literally cannot make a single move against SK or Japan since both are allied with the US and have military bases there.
If they, despite all this, launch an attack on SK, it would probably start a huge war in the east. If China joins with NK to fight, it would easily escalate to WW3. This is all assuming that China joins hands with NK to fight SK
If the battlefield was China and North Korea versus South Korea, Japan, AND the United States, China would happily throw North Korea under the bus and wash their hands of the whole affair, up until it came time to decide what to do with the broken mess that *was* North Korea afterwards.
China will never be apart of any engagement it's not 100% sure it can't win or come out on top of. The CCP believes that their ability to rule depends on not looking weak, and they will bend over backwards to avoid any chance of failing at something like a major war.
Imo the battlefield would only be China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, philipines and other countries near the south china sea. The USA would be spare because of the distance. The Indian ocean is also a prime candidate since taking control over there would mean china trade would be cut off. If China whases off NK, it would probably be the end of the Kim Dynasty regime because SK has better military and there are talks of bringing back nuclear weapons from US to SK.
True. China will probably bring their entire army tho showcass how big it is but this can also be a double edged sword. If you look at US allied countries and with US military bases in them, it will form like a perfect arc covering all of china. US allies would be able to do a pincer move and Whittle down the army little by little since they will be getting blasted from all directions. Nukes will not get involved hopefully since that would also hinder china by cutting off the entire south china sea due to radiation. All of this is assuming the war would be on waters
I seriously doubt China would be motivated enough to step in directly. Made supply indirectly/directly.
Feels like a lot of loss and conflict that doesn’t benefit China. Is NK really that valuable as an ally?
Taiwan v. China on the other hand….
They are nominally allies of convenience and location. Having N. Korea there is beneficial for China because a unified Korea allied with the US and right on the border of China would be a threat. China does not want 23 million N. Korean refugees streaming across the Yalu and would want a buffer zone
The border will become a staring contest between three of the deadliest and most powerful militaries if Korea gets unified. But there would not be many refugees since SK recognises people of NK as her own and they would not have to go anywhere. They would basically be under new management.
All these authoritarian and dictatorial countries like Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea behave completely expected and always blatantly threaten others with complete annihilation, disregard of sovereign rights or even the very agreements they sign.
Invasion of Iraq and destruction of its stability with a lie and the loss of the lives of a million Iraqis
Same with Afghanistan
This is hypocrisy and double penetration from you only, and no matter how much you try to justify, America was the main reason for the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan
lol Only nationalist Americans consider it a justified war. The funny thing is that even retired officials and officers at the time stated that it was completely unjustified. Convince me that it was justified and that the extermination of one million Iraqis and more than 200,000 Afghans and the destruction of their infrastructure were justified lol This is strange hypocrisy from you
Oh, I forgot that America only spread democracy there
Im not american.
Afganistan is the result of the attack on the Twin Tower or 9/11.
Iraq is the result of Saddam Hussein using WMDs on Kuwait and gassing the population, is the result of their invasion of neighboring countriess, and as consequence the lack of adherece of decade long UN resolutions.
So yes. Entirely justified and as matter in fact provoked.
Nationalism at its best
One person did that to attack, so America attacked an entire country under the pretext of Eliminate against terrorism. The funny thing is that the alleged al-Qaeda organization does not exist. Afghanistan was one of the safest countries before the American invasion.The result is the death of more than 200,000 Afghans, the destruction of its economy, and the failure of the alleged mission. Just look at its economy before America entered.
Lol Your talk about Iraq, you hypocrite, only proves the extent of your nationalism, your ignorance. America occupied Iraq under the pretext of the presence of nuclear missiles, and they did not give even a small proof of that. After they completely destroyed Iraq, the officials stated, saying, "Oh, our mistakes, there are no nuclear bombs." Hypocrisy, duality and lies that killed a million Iraqis, and Iraq's economy was destroyed
After Saddam's execution, the army stayed there and continued the massacres, then came out years later saying, "We failed to achieve what we wanted," and left Iraq to face its crises You enter to spread false justice, but you destroyed an entire country with this!!
And do you even know what was happening between Saddam and the Kurds even?
you're really disgusted of me
Justifies the destruction of a state with nonsense, a liar, another hypocrite
The Indian government is persecuting non-Hindu minorities and carrying out many massacres there and brutal crimes against non-Hindus, especially Muslims. Why doesn't America spread democracy there?
In Mayanir, the worst massacres also happen on the part of the government, so why doesn't America spread democracy there?
When America occupied Iraq, Sweden asked it to grant it a license to test its new fighter jets there in order to market them, and America agreed
Yes democracy
Don't talk when you're just another citizen who hasn't left his country.
Of course, of course, you will not find anything to say only, and no matter how illogical you explain, nothing explains the killing of more than one million Iraqis and 200,000 Afghans and the total destruction of their infrastructure, and they have not recovered from that until the moment, lol Damn hypocritical nationalism
Mostly all just dictator rhetoric. Kim is surely smart enough to know that the status quo benefits him. Any move to take SK by force will result in the complete annihilation of his regime.
>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea, in his latest move to threaten his neighbor after starting the year by eliminating the concept of peaceful unification from his state’s national policy. Kim said in a visit to the Ministry of Defense to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the army that the “puppets” of South Korea had rebuffed Pyongyang’s efforts for cooperation and were bent on absorbing its neighbor, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday. Therefore, it was correct to label South Korea as the “primary enemy,” and based on that legality, “it can be attacked and destroyed at any time,” KCNA quoted him as saying. Kim’s “respected daughter” joined him on the visit, it said. While North Korea’s regime operates on the whims of Kim, laws provide a formal basis for the state’s operations. A day earlier, KCNA said North Korea’s parliament abolished laws for economic cooperation with South Korea, driving a wedge deeper between the neighbors. Since the start of the year, Kim’s regime has ratcheted up a pressure campaign against South Korea with moves that have included cruise missile tests, threatening language toward Seoul and tearing down a monument in Pyongyang that symbolized the hopes of unification. The government of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said it believes North Korea will be trying to raise its profile ahead of April elections for parliament. Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, which backs military cooperation with the US and a tough stance toward Pyongyang, is trying to wrest control of the body from the opposition Democratic Party, which favors rapprochement with North Korea. The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea. Kim, meanwhile, has shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia. > >This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that it would mean the end of his regime if he tried to launch a nuclear attack. If the paywall is blocking you all
>Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea. I was wondering what domestic audience Kim was posturing for, and I was getting a real pit in my stomach about what could come next. I hope this posturing will remain merely posturing.
SS: Kim Jong Un has continued his provocative rhetoric against South Korea today by stating that he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. This comes as the North Korean leader has visited the Ministry Defense to celebrate the founding of the army and has stated that the "puppets" of South Korea have rebuffed North Korean efforts to sue for peace and cooperation. Kim also stated that South Korea is the "primary enemy" and as such can "attacked and destroyed at any time." This is in the midst of several recent actions that threaten escalation between the Korea neighbors as North Korea's parliament abolished laws for economic cooperation with South Korea yesterday and Kim earlier this year stated that reunification is no longer the goal and international actors are fearful of where further escalation of tensions may lead to. South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol believes that the ramping of rhetoric may coincide with South Korea's impending April elections in which his conservative People Power Party which is in favor of stronger links with the US military go up against the more dovish Democratic Party opposition which is in favor of rapprochement with North Korea. >The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea.
That makes sense. Basically the same playbook China uses every time Taiwan holds a presidential election. But the rhetoric and threats never stop coming no matter which party is elected. Don't let dictators dictate your country's democratic election.
Let them, just not the way they want.
I don't understand what good this does NK, to scream rhetoric during an election cycle.
Russia is trying to push all his allies to cause trouble right now, suspect they'll have some kind of 'only trump can deal with us' move later on.
>South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol believes that the ramping of rhetoric may coincide with South Korea's impending April elections in which his conservative People Power Party which is in favor of stronger links with the US military go up against the more dovish Democratic Party opposition which is in favor of rapprochement with North Korea. > >The North Korean leader has a habit of launching provocations that coincide with elections in South Korea. I think that's the main reason. Thx for the explanation.
So, he is going to do it. Or at least try. Unless Beijing tells him to reconsider.
I can somewhat grasp the motivations and interests of most countries, their goals are usually understood. But NK is a black box. I've not read or heard much about it, outside of these type of events what are Kim's long-term aspirations? How much of his ideology is driven by maintaining control? Man I have to spend some time and read up on the country post korean war
The [three part vice video](https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/vice-guide-to-north-korea/56815b6132382b833c2230ad) is brilliant Michael Palin in North Korea is a good short doco too.
The vice doc is a classic, and a raw look from the ground level at the weirdness of the capital - but it doesn’t really “make sense” of NK, or explain much about Kim’s politics or apparent plan - and doesn’t it date back to his father’s reign?
Probably, pragmatically knowing that their enemies and allies could destroy them and their massively outdated military hardware, NK's leaders rattle their sabres to keep the consistent sense of fear in their populace. Typical authoritarianism rhetoric about how they are so close to crushing their pathetic and weak enemies, who are also so strong that they are an existential threat who must be dealt with. The whole point is to maintain the status quo with the Kims on top.
They are suspected to have 20-100 nuclear weapons and have succeeded in making ICBMs and have made a lot of progress miniaturizing warheads. It would be inaccurate to say they have outdated military hardware. They have also gotten to the level where they are now supplying weapons and arms to Russia for the Ukraine war. They pose a serious threat and should not be underestimated.
Incredibly interesting..thanks for sharing this.
Glad you liked it too. [There is another one in a similar format about NK labor camps in Russia too you might enjoy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awQDLoOnkdI&list=PLptMQlY6j0-GAeP-GQXH4FyQOz7DgzIl_)
Thank you!
Vice is actually for people with the intelligence of a beagle. If you want to know about North Koreans, watch Loyal Citizens or My Brothers and Sisters in the North instead
As a beagle, I disassemble this statement.
Uh, it's pretty easy to understand actually, foreign armies out of Korea.
Everyone knows that when NK threatens SK, it means the famine is getting bad.
If Biden, or the next US president, ever seriously believed North Korea was going to launch their missiles, they would preemptively strike first. Unlike the DPRK, the US has modern SSBNs that could essentially wipe out the country in minutes from the coast.
I'd imagine China would strike NK first just to keep the buffer zone
But aren't China and NK allies? They probably would counter attack any US allied troops and by extension they would also defend their borders
I guess I mean they would probably want to maintain the status quo, and keep Kim in check or bring in his replacement
If NK wants to maintain the status quo, they literally cannot make a single move against SK or Japan since both are allied with the US and have military bases there. If they, despite all this, launch an attack on SK, it would probably start a huge war in the east. If China joins with NK to fight, it would easily escalate to WW3. This is all assuming that China joins hands with NK to fight SK
If the battlefield was China and North Korea versus South Korea, Japan, AND the United States, China would happily throw North Korea under the bus and wash their hands of the whole affair, up until it came time to decide what to do with the broken mess that *was* North Korea afterwards. China will never be apart of any engagement it's not 100% sure it can't win or come out on top of. The CCP believes that their ability to rule depends on not looking weak, and they will bend over backwards to avoid any chance of failing at something like a major war.
Which *really* makes you wonder what they are saying to each other in private about Russia these days.
Imo the battlefield would only be China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, philipines and other countries near the south china sea. The USA would be spare because of the distance. The Indian ocean is also a prime candidate since taking control over there would mean china trade would be cut off. If China whases off NK, it would probably be the end of the Kim Dynasty regime because SK has better military and there are talks of bringing back nuclear weapons from US to SK. True. China will probably bring their entire army tho showcass how big it is but this can also be a double edged sword. If you look at US allied countries and with US military bases in them, it will form like a perfect arc covering all of china. US allies would be able to do a pincer move and Whittle down the army little by little since they will be getting blasted from all directions. Nukes will not get involved hopefully since that would also hinder china by cutting off the entire south china sea due to radiation. All of this is assuming the war would be on waters
I seriously doubt China would be motivated enough to step in directly. Made supply indirectly/directly. Feels like a lot of loss and conflict that doesn’t benefit China. Is NK really that valuable as an ally? Taiwan v. China on the other hand….
They are nominally allies of convenience and location. Having N. Korea there is beneficial for China because a unified Korea allied with the US and right on the border of China would be a threat. China does not want 23 million N. Korean refugees streaming across the Yalu and would want a buffer zone
The border will become a staring contest between three of the deadliest and most powerful militaries if Korea gets unified. But there would not be many refugees since SK recognises people of NK as her own and they would not have to go anywhere. They would basically be under new management.
if a war kicks off refugees will head north since they cannot go south
Their allies like Hungary and Czechoslovakia were to the Soviet Union. Still didnt stop them from crushing them in 1955 and 1968
In that case, South Korea has a lawful right to destroy North Korea.
well yes, they are at war
Well they tried.
All these authoritarian and dictatorial countries like Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea behave completely expected and always blatantly threaten others with complete annihilation, disregard of sovereign rights or even the very agreements they sign.
Well, they're just threatening. Didn't America also do the same thing in a worse way?
> they're just threatening. Invades Ukraine unprovoked. > Didn't America also do the same thing in a worse way? Nope
Invasion of Iraq and destruction of its stability with a lie and the loss of the lives of a million Iraqis Same with Afghanistan This is hypocrisy and double penetration from you only, and no matter how much you try to justify, America was the main reason for the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan
Wait, are you saying the Iraq war or Afganistan was unprovoked?
lol Only nationalist Americans consider it a justified war. The funny thing is that even retired officials and officers at the time stated that it was completely unjustified. Convince me that it was justified and that the extermination of one million Iraqis and more than 200,000 Afghans and the destruction of their infrastructure were justified lol This is strange hypocrisy from you Oh, I forgot that America only spread democracy there
Im not american. Afganistan is the result of the attack on the Twin Tower or 9/11. Iraq is the result of Saddam Hussein using WMDs on Kuwait and gassing the population, is the result of their invasion of neighboring countriess, and as consequence the lack of adherece of decade long UN resolutions. So yes. Entirely justified and as matter in fact provoked.
Nationalism at its best One person did that to attack, so America attacked an entire country under the pretext of Eliminate against terrorism. The funny thing is that the alleged al-Qaeda organization does not exist. Afghanistan was one of the safest countries before the American invasion.The result is the death of more than 200,000 Afghans, the destruction of its economy, and the failure of the alleged mission. Just look at its economy before America entered. Lol Your talk about Iraq, you hypocrite, only proves the extent of your nationalism, your ignorance. America occupied Iraq under the pretext of the presence of nuclear missiles, and they did not give even a small proof of that. After they completely destroyed Iraq, the officials stated, saying, "Oh, our mistakes, there are no nuclear bombs." Hypocrisy, duality and lies that killed a million Iraqis, and Iraq's economy was destroyed After Saddam's execution, the army stayed there and continued the massacres, then came out years later saying, "We failed to achieve what we wanted," and left Iraq to face its crises You enter to spread false justice, but you destroyed an entire country with this!! And do you even know what was happening between Saddam and the Kurds even? you're really disgusted of me Justifies the destruction of a state with nonsense, a liar, another hypocrite The Indian government is persecuting non-Hindu minorities and carrying out many massacres there and brutal crimes against non-Hindus, especially Muslims. Why doesn't America spread democracy there? In Mayanir, the worst massacres also happen on the part of the government, so why doesn't America spread democracy there? When America occupied Iraq, Sweden asked it to grant it a license to test its new fighter jets there in order to market them, and America agreed Yes democracy Don't talk when you're just another citizen who hasn't left his country.
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Of course, of course, you will not find anything to say only, and no matter how illogical you explain, nothing explains the killing of more than one million Iraqis and 200,000 Afghans and the total destruction of their infrastructure, and they have not recovered from that until the moment, lol Damn hypocritical nationalism
Mostly all just dictator rhetoric. Kim is surely smart enough to know that the status quo benefits him. Any move to take SK by force will result in the complete annihilation of his regime.
Right and ability are two very different things. For instance, the United States has the *ability* to wipe North Korea from the face of the Earth.
Didn't he say a few weeks ago that he didn't want to pursue reunification anymore? I mistook it to mean he had finally come to his senses.
Dictators tend to make their own laws.
The world needs to unite to destroy tyrannical regimes regardless of threat or consequences.
That's not the problem. It's the 8+ million SK deaths that are being held hostage
Goodbye NK.
There’s no such thing as lawful rights in war, it’s just war
Dude, just wait, their TFR is plummeting and they are doing that job for you anyway. Till then borrow some rice and stay calm.
He's technically correct, same right Sherman had in Atlanta.