The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Woman killed in stopped car struck by bus on highway

  • 3

    Video footage highlights details of stepmother's fatal abuse of 12-year-old

  • 5

    Commuters still wear masks despite end of mask mandate on public transportation

  • 7

    INTERVIEWNorth Korean-born chef delights Southerners' taste buds, breaks down cultural barriers

  • 9

    COVID-hit Myeong-dong bounces back as tourists return

  • 11

    Public officials reluctant to dine with coworkers

  • 13

    BLACKPINK Jennie's 'Solo' music video hits record high 900 mil. YouTube views

  • 15

    ANALYSISYoon-Kishida meeting raises expectations of 3-way summit with China

  • 17

    Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows

  • 19

    Most commuters stick to mask wearing despite lifting of mandate on public transportation

  • 2

    Korea sets record of half million economically inactive youth

  • 4

    Actor Yoo Ah-in to appear for questioning Friday over alleged drug use

  • 6

    KAIST student becomes first Korean recipient of Apple Scholars fellowship

  • 8

    American admits to train graffiti-related charges but calls himself artist

  • 10

    Brides in early 40s outnumber those in early 20s

  • 12

    OTT service providers negatively impacted by illegal streaming website

  • 14

    TWICE's new album hits No. 2 on Billboard 200

  • 16

    N. Korea holds nuclear counterattack simulation drills; Kim urges perfect readiness

  • 18

    Korean startup Innospace launches test launch vehicle HANBIT-TLV

  • 20

    Horace N. Allen: Treating the masses

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
North Korea
Wed, March 22, 2023 | 06:26
North Korea lowers threshold for nuclear use: experts
Posted : 2022-04-27 17:02
Updated : 2022-04-28 08:44
Kang Seung-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
A photo by the North's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, presiding over a military parade to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Monday. Yonhap
A photo by the North's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, presiding over a military parade to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Monday. Yonhap

Pyongyang unveils state-of-the-art weapons at military parade

By Kang Seung-woo

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's commemorative speech at a recent military parade is raising fears that the totalitarian state's nuclear strategy is shifting toward using nuclear weapons for offensive purposes, not just for a retaliatory strike.

On Monday night, Pyongyang staged a military showcase on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA), during which Kim said his nuclear forces "will have to decisively accomplish its unexpected second mission" if any forces try to violate the "fundamental interests" of his country.

Kim's unexpected remarks ― a sign of a change in the country's nuclear doctrine ― have prompted diplomatic observers to worry that the threshold for the use of the North's nuclear weapons has been lowered.

Traditionally, North Korea's nuclear policy had been that it could respond to a nuclear attack with a retaliatory strike against the attacker.

"With regard to the ambiguous 'fundamental interests' (that Kim referred to), they could include taking issue with its human rights violations or imposing sanctions on the country ― things that have nothing to do with a military confrontation ― possibly allowing North Korea to use nuclear weapons for offensive purposes as well as retaliation," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.

US objective remains complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula: State Dept.
US objective remains complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula: State Dept.
2022-04-27 10:05  |  North Korea
North Korean state media airs footage of military parade
North Korean state media airs footage of military parade
2022-04-27 09:21  |  North Korea

Kim's remarks came some three weeks after his sister, Kim Yo-jong, also threatened to use nuclear weapons if South Korea begins a military confrontation with its northern neighbor ― a response to President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's reference to the need, during the election campaign, to carry out a preemptive strike in the event that the North appears ready to fire a nuclear-tipped missile at the South.

"Kim said that he could order the use of nuclear weapons to protect the 'fundamental interests' of North Korea. This sounds like an elastic term that Pyongyang can adjust the meaning of according to the situation, similar to how it blames the diplomatic deadlock on the 'hostile policies' of other countries," said Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University.

"Such an ambiguous and potentially escalatory nuclear doctrine should not only worry Seoul, Tokyo and Washington but Beijing as well."

Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the main opposition People Power Party, a North Korean-defector-turned-South Korean politician, claimed that Kim's threatening message was aimed at pressuring the South Korean and U.S. governments to shift their goal for North Korea from denuclearization to arms control.

"It is already being said ― even among conservative U.S. think tanks ― that the U.S. government should first focus on stopping North Korea from developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)," Park said.

"However, if the U.S. partially lifts sanctions on North Korea in return for freezing its nuclear and missile programs, the game would be over because North Korea has an economy specialized in sanctions, so if it receives some sanctions relief, then there is no reason to give up its nuclear weapons."

A photo by the North's official Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, presiding over a military parade to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Monday. Yonhap
KN-18 missiles are displayed during a military parade in Kim Il Sung Square, Pyongyang, Monday. Yonhap

In response, the U.S. State Department said, Tuesday (local time), that its objective remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the military parade showcased a display of its state-of-the-art road-mobile ICBMs, including the new giant ICBM known as the Hwasong-17, that it claims to have successfully launched on March 24, although the South Korean and U.S. authorities believe it was an older Hwasong-15.

North Korea also unveiled a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which has a larger warhead and length than the current Pukguksung-5, along with a mini-SLBM that the country said it test-launched last October.

Additionally, hypersonic missiles and new tactical guided weapons were displayed in the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang.



Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG Group
Top 10 Stories
1Possibly next SOHO, Seoul selects 5 neighborhoods for new signature 'K-alleys' Possibly next SOHO, Seoul selects 5 neighborhoods for new signature 'K-alleys'
2Japanese students' field trips to Korea resume after pandemic hiatus Japanese students' field trips to Korea resume after pandemic hiatus
3President Yoon refutes criticism of fence-mending summit with Japan President Yoon refutes criticism of fence-mending summit with Japan
4Kakao criticized for half-baked AI chatbot Kakao criticized for half-baked AI chatbot
5Osstem Implant to invite 1,500 dentists from 22 countries for training Osstem Implant to invite 1,500 dentists from 22 countries for training
6Apple Pay service starts in KoreaApple Pay service starts in Korea
7Lotte desperate to win LVMH Chairman Arnault's heart Lotte desperate to win LVMH Chairman Arnault's heart
8Busan to have alternate no-driving days during Expo inspectionBusan to have alternate no-driving days during Expo inspection
9LVMH allegedly joins takeover bid to acquire Missha LVMH allegedly joins takeover bid to acquire Missha
10US report voices concerns over S. Korea's press freedomUS report voices concerns over S. Korea's press freedom
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows Celebrities head back abroad to film K-food reality shows
2Lee Se-young to lead MBC's new series 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Lee Se-young to lead MBC's new series 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract'
3Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director Park Sung-woong talks about filming 'Woong Nam' with comedian-turned-director
4[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams INTERVIEW'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams
5Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group