North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has said that if any force is used against his country, he will not hesitate to use all his military power to wipe out the enemies. According to North Korean State Media (NKSM), on February 8, 2024, during a visit to the North Korean Defense Ministry, Kim called on soldiers to adopt the government’s ideology and defend the country at the cost of their lives.[1] Kim made the following statements:[2]
“If enemies try to use force against our country, we will take a bold decision to change history and will not hesitate to use all our superpower to wipe them out.”
Reiterating his pledge to never engage in dialogue or negotiations with South Korea, Kim said that Seoul was “Enemy No.1”. Stating that a policy of military preparedness was the only way to ensure peace and security, Kim declared at a major government meeting at the end of 2023 that peaceful reunification was impossible and that his country was making a major change in its relations with South Korea.[3]
NKSM reported that Kim was accompanied by his daughter Ju Ae during his visit to the Ministry of Defense. This suggests that Ju may play a possible role in the future leadership of the country. North Korea celebrated the anniversary of the founding of the country on February 8, 2024. The previous year, on the same date, Pyongyang held a grand military parade in which it displayed its largest intercontinental ballistic missile. However, NKSM did not mention a similar large-scale event this year. However, it said that there was an honor guard parade for Kim at the Defense Ministry, where he attended a banquet with military commanders and soldiers and celebrated the anniversary.[4]
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent statements and the country’s recent military developments can be considered as important factors affecting the security dynamics in the region. These statements and developments signal that North Korea will pursue a strong defense policy by emphasizing its military capacity.
First of all, Kim Jong Un’s emphasis on North Korea’s military might and threats to “wipe out” the country’s enemies could be perceived as rhetoric that could increase tensions in the region. Such threats may increase the risk of regional instability and conflict. However, North Korea’s recent military developments suggest that Pyongyang is proactively increasing its military capacity. Kim Jong Un’s declaration that he is closed to dialogue and negotiations with South Korea is worrisome for the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea is a major nuclear power and poses a significant threat not only regionally but also globally. This has led to a partnership between the United States, South Korea and Japan in the Asia-Pacific region. Due to their geopolitical position, Seoul and Tokyo are among the states that feel the threat from North Korea most closely.
In this context, it can be argued that Pyongyang’s complete closure of the avenues for dialogue and negotiations is particularly effective. This situation shows that building a peaceful system in the region, which is already difficult, has become almost impossible. Because it can be said that Kim rejects exactly a peaceful conjuncture.
In addition to all these, the fact that Kim had his daughter with him on the visit in question is intended to send a message to the public for the country’s leadership after him. Because serious allegations of illness have emerged about Kim in the past. Therefore, this situation creates a succession debate.
On the other hand, Kim’s having Ju by his side in such situations is also an experience for Ju. Because it can be said that Kim also aims for this. It can be said that Ju’s being intertwined with both the army and state affairs is Kim’s plan to prepare him for the future.
As a result, North Korea continues to pose a threat to the region. The US, South Korea and Japan continue their trilateral military cooperation. It is a question mark to what extent this will be a deterrent for Pyongyang or to what extent it will deter North Korea from its current actions. At the same time, there is a conjuncture in which Kim is publicizing his daughter as a successor.
[1] “North Korea Leader Kim: We Will Wipe Out Enemies if They Use Force -KCNA”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-leader-kim-we-will-wipe-out-enemies-if-they-use-force-kcna-2024-02-08/, (Date of Access: 13.02.2024).
[2] “Kim Says He Has No Desire for Talks and Repeats a Threat to Destroy South if Provoked”, Business Standard, https://www.tbsnews.net/world/kim-says-he-has-no-desire-talks-and-repeats-threat-destroy-south-if-provoked-789858, (Date of Access: 13.02.2024).
[3] “North Korea Leader Kim: We Will Wipe Out Enemies if They Use Force -KCNA”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-leader-kim-we-will-wipe-out-enemies-if-they-use-force-kcna-2024-02-08/, (Date of Access: 13.02.2024).
[4] “North Korean Leader Kim Brings Daughter to Visit Troops”, Carribean Loop News, https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/north-korean-leader-kim-brings-daughter-visit-troops, (Date of Access: 13.02.2024).
