North Korea's Kim Jong-un points to map of Seoul as he threatens to use 'physical force'

Kim Jong-un warned that physical force will be used against South Korea upon any violation of sovereignty during an army inspection on Thursday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, inspects the 2nd Corps of the Korean People's Army on Thursday in a photo released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the following day. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned of “unhesitatingly” using physical force if the South violates the North's sovereignty during his visit to the headquarters of the 2nd Corps of the Korean People's Army, according to the regime's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday.

The remarks were made during his inspection of the corps on Thursday, just two days after Pyongyang destroyed key roads and railways connecting the two Koreas via the Gyeongui and Donghae lines.

Kim referred to the recent road destruction as “the final declaration that if the DPRK's sovereignty is violated by the ROK, a hostile country, its physical forces will be used unhesitatingly, without sticking to conditions any longer," using the Republic of Korea's official name to refer to South Korea. The DPRK, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is North Korea’s official name.

According to the KCNA report, Kim also claimed that the destruction of the roads was not only a “physical closure but also the end of an evil relationship with Seoul,” labeling the South as a “foreign country and a hostile state.”

It is widely speculated that Pyongyang officially amended its constitution to designate South Korea as a hostile state.

During the inspection, Kim was reportedly briefed on the enemy situation by the corps commander, inspected brigades under the corps and reviewed military action plans based on developments in the situation.

"The impact of the changed nature of the ROK-U.S. alliance and the more developed different enemy military maneuvers of aggressive nature on the DPRK's security more clearly highlight the importance of strengthening its nuclear deterrent and proves its validity,” Kim emphasized, according to the report.

Kim was accompanied on the inspection by Pak Jong-chon, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, and No Kwang-chol, minister of National Defence.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, points to a spot on a large map during his inspection of the 2nd Corps of the Korean People's Army on Thursday in a photo released by the regime's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the following day. [KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY]

Following the report, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon reiterated the significance of nuclear capabilities in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Kim Jong-un has once again issued threats while unfolding a map of Seoul,” Oh wrote.

The KCNA also released photos showing Kim pointing to a large map on a table, mostly blurred but revealing Seoul. A TV screen behind Kim displayed a map of the Korean Peninsula, with a thick blue line drawn near the demilitarized zone, clearly separating the two Koreas.

“As the mayor of Seoul and someone who has lived here my entire life, I feel an unbearable anger at these repeated threats against our city," Oh's statement said.

The mayor emphasized that the North’s “arrogant attitude” stems largely from its possession of nuclear weapons against the South's lack of such armament.

He added that the only path to peace is to strengthen military capabilities, assuring that Seoul will “remain unfazed by Kim’s threats, no matter how severe they become,” and will “closely cooperate with the Capital Defense Command to ensure the city’s defense."

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]