Against United States Domination, Kim Jong-un Promises More Powerful Nuclear Weapons

North Korean leader (North Korea) Kim Jong-un and his top political officials vowed to increase production of powerful nuclear weapons to counter US domination.

The leader of the Korean communist regime also vowed to advance space development despite the "severe flaw" from the recent failed satellite launch.

The determination by Kim Jong-un and his elite officials emerged at the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's three-day plenary. The party meeting ended on Sunday.

"In a report presented at the eighth plenary of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea called for strengthening self-defense capacity with new weapons to deter the US and other adversaries amid the changing security environment," said the report by the Workers' Party of Korea newspaper Rodong. Sinmun, Monday (19/6/2023).

"To this end, the party pledges to further enhance relations with other countries against the United States' brigandish strategy of world domination," the report continued, referring to North Korea's longstanding allies, such as China and Russia.

Blaming what North Korea calls "reckless war provocations" from Washington and its allies for aggravating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the report highlights progress in developing nuclear weapons as a major step on the road to strengthening North Korea's nuclear deterrence capability. 

"The Political Bureau calls on the national defense sector to consistently adhere to the orientation of developing nuclear weapons and strengthening nuclear forces... by increasing the production of powerful nuclear weapons," the KCNA report added., North Korea's state media. 

The party plenary made no mention of possible steps to ease pandemic-related border restrictions since January 2020, despite recent speculation that North Korea may soon open its borders to travel.

The plenary session was originally scheduled to be held in early June, but finally started on Friday last week in Pyongyang.

State media did not explain the postponement of the plenary session, but the failure of the much-anticipated satellite launch on May 31 left Kim Jong-un's regime with other worries.

Military reconnaissance satellites have been a longtime goal for Kim Jong-un, but after an accelerated development cycle, the Chollima-1 space launch vehicle crashed into the Yellow Sea soon after liftoff.

The enlarged party meeting presented the failed launch as a major flaw in the country's space ambitions and blamed "irresponsible" officials for launch preparations for the failure.

The Political Bureau instructed scientists to analyze the cause of the failure and successfully launched another military reconnaissance satellite at earlier dates.

The Workers' Party of Korea also discussed achieving key economic targets but acknowledged "flaws and breaches" affecting that progress.

In particular, the Political Bureau paid attention to the progress in construction, stating that this year had witnessed the largest ever project in the country's construction history. 

Authorities recently launched several construction projects in line with the leader's goal of building 50,000 homes in Pyongyang by the end of 2025, but these projects have been marred by repeated delays over the last two years.

The meeting also called for urgent efforts to increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner, a top priority as the country grapples with severe food shortages and an economic crisis. 

Following the Political Bureau's report, participants discussed steps to improve education, enhance the role of local officials, and strengthen party discipline. 

Finally, the plenary focused on organizational issues when selecting members and alternative members of the party's Central Committee, Political Bureau and Central Inspection Commission, Secretary of the new Central Committee, and directors of key party departments.