North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Reiterates Threat of Nuclear Strike Amid ICBM Praise

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has restated the country’s policy of not hesitating to launch a nuclear strike if provoked by its rivals. Kim praised troops involved in the recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, stating that the launch demonstrated the evolution of North Korea’s nuclear doctrine and strategy.

He emphasized the readiness to launch preemptive nuclear strikes when provoked by nuclear adversaries. The recent Hwasong-18 missile test marked North Korea’s first ICBM launch in five months. Despite Kim’s nuclear threats, many foreign experts doubt the country’s possession of fully functional nuclear missiles and question the likelihood of a first-use scenario given the military superiority of the U.S. and its allies.