image1
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un speaks at the central committee headquarters of his party in Pyongyang on January 1, 2024. (AFP)

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un says his military needs to go extremely tough to "thoroughly annihilate" the United States and South Korea in the event of a potential nuclear war.

At the end of five days of year-end party meetings, Kim told his military commanders on Sunday it was a "fait accompli that a war may break out on the Korean peninsula any time due to the enemies’ reckless moves for invading" North Korea.

To safeguard national security, Kim stated, Pyongyang needs to sharpen "the treasured sword." He was making an apparent reference to the country’s nuclear program.

"If the enemy opt for military confrontation ... our army should deal a deadly blow to thoroughly annihilate them by mobilizing all the toughest means and potentialities without moment’s hesitation."

Kim also said the military "should rapidly respond to any possible nuclear crisis and put continuous spurs to the preparations for a great event to suppress the whole territory of South Korea by mobilizing all physical means and forces including nuclear forces in contingency."

Last month, North Korea test-fired its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is theoretically capable of reaching anywhere in the United States.

Kim has said before that the ICBM would provide Pyongyang with a "powerful strategic attack means" and boost its nuclear capabilities.

Pyongyang has repeatedly warned that the US is increasing provocations of a "nuclear war" by deploying nuclear-capable bombers to the region.

North Korea says the US nuclear assets stationed in the Korean peninsula will become Pyongyang’s "first targets for destruction" in the event of an actual conflict.

The US has deployed a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Korean port city of Busan and flew its long-range bombers in drills with Seoul and Tokyo.