North Korean despot Kim Jong Un asserted that there will be no more war because the communist country’s nuclear weapons guarantee its safety, according to state-run media.
“Now we have become able to reliably defend ourselves against any form of high-intensity pressure and military threat,” Kim said, adding, “Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defense nuclear deterrence, the word war [sic] would no longer exist on this land, and the security and future of our state will be guaranteed forever.”
The speech came in the midst of stalled talks intended to dismantle Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States.
North Korea has long claimed that its nuclear weapons are defensive, but officials with the United States and United Nations have said it would allow Pyongyang to adopt more hostile, threatening tactics in the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2018, Kim and President Donald Trump met for the first time in Singapore, raising the hopes that the country could be open to ending its nuclear threats. A second meeting in 2019 in Vietnam between the two fell apart before talks stalled.
Last month, the regime blew up an inter-liaison office along its border with South Korea, while Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, issued threats to Seoul about leaflets being dropped.
“Last but not the least (sic), I would like to give my impression on the celebrations for the U.S. Independence Day that I’ve seen on TV a few days ago,” she added. “I have got the permission from Comrade Chairman to personally obtain, for sure, the DVD of the celebrations for the Independence Day in the future, if possible.”