North Korean Leader Threatens South Korea With Nuclear Weapons

South Korea Questions North Korea's Claim On New Missile Test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a threat to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea in response to heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. This comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would result in the end of its regime.

Kim's statement, made during a visit to an army base in the western part of the country, emphasized that Pyongyang would not hesitate to use all offensive forces at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, if its sovereignty were encroached upon. He further stated that in such a scenario, the permanent existence of Seoul and South Korea would be impossible.

The recent escalation in rhetoric between the two Koreas follows North Korea's display of images showing Kim visiting a uranium enrichment facility, raising concerns about the country's nuclear production efforts. President Yoon showcased South Korea's powerful ballistic missile capabilities during a recent parade, aimed at deterring North Korean threats.

The longstanding division between North and South Korea dates back to the Korean War in 1953, which ended with an armistice but no peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war. While reunification had been a shared goal in the past, Kim announced earlier this year that North Korea would no longer pursue this aim, labeling the South as its 'principal enemy.'

South Korean President warns of consequences for North Korea's nuclear use.

Kim Jong Un threatens to use nuclear weapons against South Korea.

North Korea displays images of Kim at a uranium enrichment facility.

Experts have noted North Korea's growing confidence in its nuclear capabilities, as evidenced by Kim's recent visits to nuclear facilities. South Korea, in response, has been bolstering its own arsenal, including unveiling the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile capable of penetrating North Korean bunkers.

President Yoon emphasized that any use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with a strong response from South Korea and its key military ally, the United States. In a show of solidarity, the US flew a B-1B bomber over an Armed Forces Day ceremony near Seoul.

Kim Jong Un, in a direct response to President Yoon, criticized him as a 'puppet' and an 'abnormal man' for boasting about military might in the face of a nuclear-armed nation. The situation remains tense as North Korea's legislature is expected to meet soon, potentially revoking agreements related to the reunification of the Koreas.