North Korea Launches Short-Range Ballistic Missile on New Year's Day, South Says

Kim said that at present, North Korea needs to increase its military strength to fully guarantee its sovereignty, security and fundamental interests. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has started the New Year with missile testing. On Sunday morning, North Korea conducted a missile test in the central region, which was successful in hitting a distance of about 400 kilometers. On this occasion, Kim Jong Un pledged that North Korea would work vigorously to increase the number of nuclear weapons throughout the year. Kim Jong has issued an order to expand his country's nuclear arsenal and build the most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to the official 'Korean Central News Agency' (KCNA), Kim said that there is a need to make nuclear weapons on a large scale. He has ordered to increase the number of nuclear weapons. According to KCNA, Kim's ambitious intercontinental ballistic missile system is aimed at rapid retaliatory nuclear strikes.

Kim's moves are in line with the broader direction of his nuclear weapons development program as he has repeatedly vowed to boost both the quality and quantity of his arsenal.

Some experts said Kim would likely continue testing weapons this year. They will try to use their increased arsenal to extract concessions such as sanctions relief in future dealings with their adversaries.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said at the party meeting, 'They are now willing to isolate (North Korea) and separate like never before.'

Kim said that at present, North Korea needs to increase its military strength to fully guarantee its sovereignty, security and fundamental interests. Kim accused South Korea of ​​being "bent on building irrational and dangerous weapons". KCNA said Kim highlighted the need to mass-produce tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield and called for a rapid increase in the country's nuclear arsenal. 

A man at a Seoul railway station walks past a television showing file footage of a North Korean missile test, Dec. 31, 2022 . (image source : voanews.com)