Kim Jong-un orders North Korea’s nuclear programme to proceed at ‘maximum speed’

Kim Jong-un makes defiant speech at military parade warning other countries against provoking his nation

A photo released by the state-run North Korea news agency shows Kim, centre, presiding over a military parade (EPA)

Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster North Korea’s nuclear forces at “maximum speed” in a defiant speech during a massive military parade on Monday night.

In his speech, Mr Kim also made an open threat that North Korea would use its “nuclear forces” against countries that provoked it.

Marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army, the parade showcased the country’s largest-known intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), among other weapons.

“We will continue to implement measures aimed at strengthening and developing our country’s nuclear forces at the maximum speed,” Mr Kim told his troops, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as the crowd gathered for the parade at Kim Il Sung Square.

“The fundamental mission of our nuclear forces is to deter war, but if an undesirable situation emerges on our land, our nuclear forces cannot be limited to a single mission of preventing war,” he added, donning a white and golden ceremonial coat.

“If any forces, regardless of who they are, try to infringe upon our fundamental interests, our nuclear forces will have no choice but to absolutely carry out its unexpected second mission,” Mr Kim warned.

The parade featured the Hwasong-17 that North Korea said it tested in March, though South Korea has questioned which missile was really used. The March test launch of the ICBM, North Korea’s first since 2017, drew condemnation from several countries.

Pictures released by state media showed a happy-looking Mr Kim overseeing soldiers marching across Kim Il-sung Square. Also on display were an array of weapons, including tanks, missiles, armoured vehicles, and multiple rocket launchers.

The 90-minute parade concluded with a display of fireworks that illuminated the sky over the capital.

Display of North Korean army’s weaponry during the parade (Reuters)

The display was not pre-announced by North Korea but had been expected by observers after a relatively muted celebrations to mark founder Kim Il-sung’s birthday earlier this month.

Monday’s parade was closely watched by neighbouring South Korea and Japan, as well as international analysts, as the country has already conducted 13 rounds of weapon tests this year alone.

Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said North Korea’s threats could push the US closer to allies Japan and South Korea.

“Pyongyang typically seeks to drive wedges between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo. But during this military display, representatives of South Korea president-elect Yoon [Suk-yeol] were in Japan for policy consultations and representatives of the Biden administration were in South Korea to coordinate an early summit,” he noted.

“The Kim regime is probably trying to increase national pride and domestic legitimacy with propaganda about state, party and military accomplishments on different occasions,” he added.

Besides its missile-testing spree, North Korea is also believed to be restoring tunnels at its previously closed nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, where it has conducted six tests in the past.

South Korea’s defence ministry has raised concerns over the development of a nuclear test site, while Mr Yoon has vowed to strike a tougher stance against North Korea’s “illicit” and “unreasonable” provocations.