The North Korean leadership has framed the military’s posture around the possibility of a large scale confrontation on the Korean Peninsula should a nuclear crisis erupt. In a recent address titled On Aspects of the 2024 Struggle, the KCNA coverage indicated a call for perpetual readiness within the armed forces to respond to escalating tensions involving the United States and the government in Seoul.
The speech portrays the alliance between Washington and Seoul as ever more assertive, with a steady buildup of forces on South Korean soil. This increase in troop presence, according to the address, is viewed as a factor that intensifies uncertainty and raises the odds of a hot conflict breaking out on the peninsula.
The statement asserts that war is no longer a distant abstraction for the country. It urges the People’s Army to monitor security developments with heightened vigilance and to maintain a readiness posture capable of rapid, decisive action should a nuclear crisis arise. The message notes that mobilization could involve all available manpower, vehicles, and other means, including the potential use of nuclear forces if the situation demanded it.
On the diplomatic front, there were developments related to US naval activity in the region. A US nuclear submarine named Annapolis reportedly reached ports in South Korea on July 24, a move North Korea described as a potential trigger for nuclear escalation. In Seoul’s response, officials warned that the use of nuclear weapons would represent an existential threat to North Korea itself.
Further statements from Pyongyang included an August remark by the defense minister stating that a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula is seen as inevitable by North Korea. In September, there were reports of a submarine equipped with tactical nuclear weapons being launched, signaling continued progress in North Korea’s military capabilities. At the same time, Kim Jong Un himself traveled by train to meet with Vladimir Putin in Russia, with a subsequent meeting at the Vostochny cosmodrome marking a notable moment in ongoing high level exchanges between the two countries.
Earlier, North Korea reiterated warnings that the entry of a US submarine into South Korean waters would be treated as a trigger for nuclear force deployment. The overall narrative emphasizes a stance of unwavering readiness and a willingness to respond aggressively to perceived threats, reflecting a broader strategic calculus that seeks to deter external pressure while signaling resolve to all observers.