North Korea Says it Will Use its Nuclear Capabilities to Advance the Economy

Pyongyang is now calming down a notch after a recent barrage of threats and verbal attacks directed by its leader to South Korea and the United States. In a speech that was released on Tuesday, North Korean President Kim Jong-un addressed the Central Committee of the Ruling Workers Party, said that the nuclear capabilities of the country would be used for the purpose of economic development. The Central Committee is the highest policy-making body in North Korea.

Economy before security

In his speech, Kim Jong-un also made a promise to his constituents saying that the nation will become prosperous and even stronger than it is today. The country will celebrate the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the country’s founder, on April 15, 2013. Apparently, the shift from the focus on security to the economy is imminent in North Korea’s agenda.

Kim stated that a country with nuclear capabilities has the strength to deter invasion by any country. The country’s strength is a “war deterrent” and is a reliable measure of protection of North Korea’s sovereignty as a nation.

Hostile rhetoric

In the past few days tensions have been very high. North Korea has threatened South Korea to close the joint economic zone. North Korea even advanced to full missile alert. Threats of attacks were thrown to the United States, particularly on its Pacific bases and even on the mainland itself. The tension in the Korean peninsula increased further with a statement from Pyongyang that nuclear war “is imminent.”

The slew of verbal attacks was initially released by Pyongyang at the wake of the annual military drills conducted by the US and South Korea. The drills conducted in early March saw quite a considerable show of aerial power from stealth bombers of the United States. North Korea called the drills from both military forces “hostile.”

Washington has recently deployed F-22 fighter jets to the area as part of the military exercise. The Obama administration expressed no real concern for hostilities to arise because there were no changes in troop movements in the North to raise alarm bells. The US continues to monitor the situation.

South Korean response

In response, South Korea released a statement saying that there would be retaliation should the North decide to attack for real. One of the policy changes imposed by the South involved a change in the rules of engagement. When an attack comes from the North, local military units can respond immediately. There is now no need to seek permission from the authorities in Seoul.

Three years ago, a small island in South Korea was subjected to a shelling attack by the North. The South did not retaliate at that time but it has made clear that another attack from North Korea would mean a definite military retaliation.

UN sanctions

The nuclear tests conducted by North Korea in February were greatly criticized by the international community and the United Nations decided to place sanctions to Pyongyang for pursuing its nuclear ambitions amidst international protest. The North reacted to the sanctions with vehement protest.

However, despite the shift in tone of the speech, in his speech Kim Jong-un still made accusations to the United States stating that the superpower seeks to block the country’s development. Further, he accused the US of dragging his country to the arms race. The full speech has already been published.