North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has returned to defend the development of its “valuable” nuclear program in response to the threats of the US, coinciding with statements by Donald Trump that “one thing will work” with Pyongyang.
As North Korea celebrates today’s two major anniversary days for the regime, the North Korean media today picked up on Kim’s message that he was “completely correct” in his policy of betting simultaneously on the development of the economy and its nuclear arsenal.
The North Korean leader made the remarks at a plenary meeting of the powerful Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which on Saturday approached the country’s situation and approved some high-ranking appointments, North Korea’s state agency KCNA said on Friday.
“The nuclear weapons of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (the official name of North Korea) are a valuable fruit of the bloody struggle of its people to defend the destiny and sovereignty of the country from the prolonged nuclear threats of the US imperialists, said Kim Jong-un during the meeting.
In a clear challenge to the international community, the supreme leader called for “an invariable continuation of this path in the future” and assured that “the national economy has grown this year with great strength”, despite the harsh sanctions imposed in response to his regime’s nuclear and missile program.
The words of Kim coincided with the recent statements of the US president, Donald Trump , who on Saturday said that “one thing will work” to do against the threat of North Korea, insisting that, in his view, years dialogue with the Pyongyang regime have been of no avail.
Trump did not specify whether this expression referred to military action against the Pyongyang regime, although it is a possibility he has said many times that he does not rule out.
During this Saturday’s plenary in Pyongyang, held at least once a year, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong was elected as one of the new members of the Standing Committee of the Party politburo.
Analysts see this appointment as another sign that this 30-year-old woman is gaining more and more power and presence in the hermetic North Korean regime.
The remaining changes in the remodeling of the power dome also help elucidate who are the people who form the closest circle of power around Kim Jong-un .
One of the leader’s closest collaborators, Choe Ryong-hae, 67, and Vice-Chairman of the Workers’ Party, also became a member of the Party’s Central Military Committee.
Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, who recently traveled to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly, was elected a member of the Standing Committee’s politburo, reinforcing his position.
The Standing Committee of the Politburo, the party’s most powerful body, is composed of, among others, Choe, Kim Jong-un , President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, Kim Yong-nam, and the Director of the North Korean armed forces, Hwabg Pyong-so.
The meeting was held today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the appointment as Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party of Kim Jong-il, the current leader’s father.
Some 100,000 people, including senior officials of the regime, gathered in Kim Il-sung Square today to participate in an event that ended with fireworks and served to pay tribute to the figure of the leader from 1994 to 2011.
Party Vice-President Choe Ryong-hae appealed in his speech to “overcome sanctions” with further economic development and win “the final fight” against the United States, according to North Korean media.
In addition, this Tuesday marks the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Korean Workers’ Party, one of the most important dates in the North Korean calendar.
Seoul authorities have warned in recent days that Pyongyang could launch a new missile launch coinciding with this celebration by maintaining “its vigilance and preparation,” although they have acknowledged that no signs were detected that the provocation is going to be imminent.
