Kim Jong Un Orders 2.5x Missile Output, Rejecting US Denuclearization Push
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 7
Kim Jong Un Orders 2.5x Missile Output, Rejecting US Denuclearization Push
1 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 7
Summary
North Korea said Kim Jong Un ordered weapons factories to raise missile production capacity 2.5 times under a five-year plan, signaling a fresh acceleration of arms buildup.
Kim Yo Jong paired that order with a blunt rejection of U.S. denuclearization demands, calling them an “anachronistic dream” and saying Pyongyang will keep expanding its nuclear arsenal.
The statement followed Kim’s visit last week to a new nuclear-materials plant, where he said North Korea would strengthen its nuclear forces at an “exponential rate.”
Xi Jinping is due in Pyongyang on Monday for his first visit in seven years, but analysts expect him to avoid pressing denuclearization and instead emphasize Chinese influence and possible economic aid.
North Korea has accelerated weapons development since Trump-Kim talks collapsed in 2019 and has drawn closer to Russia, sending troops and arms for the Ukraine war in exchange for aid, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.
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Overview
North Korea remains firmly committed to its nuclear weapons program, openly rejecting any possibility of denuclearization even as high-level diplomatic events approach. This stance is reinforced by Kim Yo-jong’s clear statements and Kim Jong Un’s repeated inspections of uranium enrichment facilities, including the unveiling of new sites and updates to existing ones like Yongbyon. These actions, supported by satellite imagery and official confirmations, signal to both regional partners and the international community that North Korea views its nuclear arsenal as non-negotiable, prioritizing military advancement over external pressure or diplomatic engagement.