Kim Jong-un reveals nuclear warhead, calls for more weapons-grade material
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- 28 Mar 2023
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (black suit) inspects missiles at a nuclear weapons institute on Monday in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday. (KCNA-Yonhap)
For the first time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un revealed his country’s nuclear warhead in person alongside a system meant to manage such operations, saying the regime needs an “exponentially bigger” nuclear arsenal amid potential preparations for a nuclear test.
The North’s official Korea Central News Agency said Tuesday that on the previous day, Kim inspected new tactical nuclear weapons as well as technologies needed to make compatible all weaponry, including nuclear warheads. The KCNA released a photo of the Hwasan-31, its first nuclear warhead ever made public, saying Kim also tested the reliability of a nuclear management system during last week’s exercises.
They involved chiefly an underwater drone capable of nuclear attacks on South Korea and the United States. The drone was tested for the second time on Monday, the KCNA added, referring to the new weapon it claims can deliver sneak attacks leaving behind a “radioactive tsunami.” The same day, the North simulated nuclear attacks using two short-range ballistic missiles, defying United Nations sanctions that ban ballistic missile launches.
The Tuesday announcement is the latest highlight of an impasse in ties as North Korea makes nuclear threats in response to annual military exercises by South Korea and the US. The routine -- a “rehearsal for invasion” to Pyongyang but a “test for readiness” to Seoul and Washington -- was revived after a five-year hiatus. The efforts yielded no headway on denuclearization, because of differences over whether to seek sanctions relief or disarmament first.
Analysts warn that South Korea and the US are far from reengaging North Korea, let alone resuming nuclear dialogue stalled over “irreconcilable differences.” Shin Jong-woo, a senior analyst at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, suggested that North Korea is closer to another nuclear test, a step that would only complicate peace efforts by the allies.
“The fact that North Koreans displayed the Hwasan-31 warhead means that a nuclear test is imminent,” Shin said, singling out the warhead he said will be used at the test. North Korea last conducted a nuclear test in 2017 and has since faced harsher international sanctions. Read More…
