North Korean leader affirms expansion of nuclear arsenal in founding day speech

Kim Jong-un delivered a speech packed with policy on the 76th anniversary of the country's founding, from the exponential increase of its nuclear arsenal to regional development plans.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a speech in Pyongyang on Monday on the occasion of North Korea's 76th birthday, in this photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. [YONHAP]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that his regime will increase its nuclear arsenal exponentially while "strengthening its nuclear force" in a surprise speech delivered on Sept. 9 marking the 76th anniversary of the country's founding.

The speech, delivered after his notable absence from the official celebrations a day earlier, marked the first time the leader used the occasion to directly assess national affairs and lay out policy directions.

Kim's speech, titled "Let Us Further Strive for the Prosperity of Our Great State," reviewed the nation’s progress toward goals set by the Eighth Party Congress and outlined future plans, according to the state-media Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).

"It is the first task of the revolution to constantly strengthen and develop our army's capability to fight a war," Kim was quoted as saying in the KCNA's English transcript of the speech.

He reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to enhancing its nuclear arsenal, saying that the country "will steadily strengthen its nuclear force capable of fully coping with any threatening acts imposed by its nuclear-armed rival states" while redoubling efforts and measures to ensure that the entire military, including the nuclear force, is combat-ready.

Kim also emphasized that North Korea is now a “responsible nuclear weapons state” and is “perfectly carrying out the policy on building the nuclear armed forces by increasing the number of nuclear weapons" at an exponential rate while the country’s nuclear combat forces are “being operated under a strict command and control system.”

He also reasserted that North Korea’s nuclear weapons are purely for self-defense.

“Our nuclear weapons for defending ourselves do not pose a threat to anyone,” Kim said. He reiterated the regime's longstanding position that "strong power is genuine peace and an absolute guarantee for the development of our state."

Unlike in past speeches, Kim's remarks on foreign policy were limited. He made no direct mention of South Korea, only briefly referencing “the United States and its followers” — relatively restrained phrasing in contrast to the harsher rhetoric typically seen in the communist regime's statements about the United States and its allies.

Kim also addressed the recent flood damage in parts of North Korea, and seemed aware of public dissatisfaction with his regime’s aggressive push for local development despite the natural disaster.

“Severe floods hit some areas of North Pyongan Province along the lower River Amnok and of Jagang and Ryanggang provinces in late July, which hindered the state work and required the mobilization of huge forces for rehabilitation,” Kim said.

He added that he is aware of skeptical attitudes toward the regional development plan, referring to the "20x10" initiative that aims to build new factories in 20 counties annually over the next 10 years, but asserted that it is possible.

The North Korean founding day is typically a propaganda event aimed at boosting the regime’s image among citizens. South Korea’s Ministry of Unification described Kim’s decision to deliver a major policy speech on national defense and economic issues during this event as highly unusual.

Analysts speculate that the speech may have been intended to replace a session of the Supreme People's Assembly that was postponed due to constitutional amendments. These amendments are believed to pertain to issues related to redrawing national borders and downplaying reunification efforts, yet internal decisions on these matters have reportedly not yet been finalized.

“The founding day is not a day on which Kim Jong-un typically delivers a speech.” an official from Seoul's Unification Ministry told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Kim’s policy-based speech was likely an attempt to calm public sentiment following the floods as well as to pressure the country’s leadership to achieve significant year-end results in various projects."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]