Kim Jong-un inspects missile base, citing growing US nuclear threat

By Im Yoon-seo Posted : October 23, 2024, 16:31 Updated : October 23, 2024, 16:39
 
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) inspects a missile base at an undisclosed location, in this photo released by the North's official Korea Central News Agency on Oct. 23, 2024.
SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a missile base for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), state media said on Wednesday.

"The U.S. strategic nuclear means pose ever-increasing threat to the security environment of [North Korea] and the long-term threats urgently demand that [the country] more definitely bolster its war deterrence and take a thorough and strict counteraction posture of the nuclear forces," Pyongyang's Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported quoting its leader as saying.

The exact location and date of his inspection were not disclosed, but the visit to the military base came amid escalating tensions between the two Koreas, following the North's alleged troop deployment to Russia to support its war in Ukraine.

Photos released by KCNA showed Kim inspecting a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel ICBM, capable of striking anywhere on the U.S. mainland.

With the U.S. presidential election just two weeks away, North Korea appears to be ramping up its military arsenal to attract attention.

Meanwhile, South Korea is expected to launch its third reconnaissance satellite in December as part of its plans to acquire five spy satellites by 2025 to enhance surveillance activities against North Korea.

The satellite will be carried into orbit by a Falcon 9 rocket from Elon Musk's company in the U.S. The previous two satellites were launched in December last year in California and in April this year in Florida.

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