North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has escalated tensions by threatening to use nuclear weapons against South Korea if provoked.
His remarks came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that any nuclear aggression from the North would lead to the collapse of Kim's regime.
This verbal exchange, though not new, follows North Korea's recent missile tests and the revelation of a nuclear facility.
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Observers expect North Korea's parliament to formalize a "two-state" system on the Korean Peninsula next week, rejecting reconciliation with the South.
During a visit to a special operations unit, Kim emphasized his military's readiness to deploy nuclear weapons in response to any threat to North Korea's sovereignty.
Kim's remarks directly responded to President Yoon’s Armed Forces Day speech, where Yoon showcased South Korea's new Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile.
Yoon stressed that any nuclear attempt by the North would result in overwhelming retaliation from the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim's sister and a senior official, also mocked South Korea’s military capabilities, arguing that conventional weapons cannot counter North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Despite the North's aggressive rhetoric, experts doubt Kim would launch a nuclear strike, as his military remains outmatched by the combined forces of South Korea and the U.S.
Tensions have worsened since North Korea adopted an escalatory nuclear doctrine in 2022. All diplomatic and communication efforts between the Koreas have been stalled since 2019, and animosities continue to rise as both sides engage in military posturing.
North Korea has also been flying trash-laden balloons across the border, provoking South Korea to resume anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts.
