Kim Yo Jong, serving as deputy department head of the Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee and the sister of North Korea’s leader, spoke about a growing concern over the balance of military power on the Korean Peninsula and nearby regions. She warned that any significant disruption to this parity could escalate into war, and she stated that North Korea will continue to strengthen its nuclear arsenal as a core element of its security strategy. The remarks reflect Pyongyang’s emphasis on deterrence and the perceived necessity to match the rising capabilities of opposing forces in the region. The stance signals a broader approach that treats nuclear capability as essential for defending sovereignty amid ongoing regional tensions and external pressure from allied powers, and it presents a clear message of resolve from North Korea’s leadership.
She stressed that any violation of the equality of power between North Korea and what she described as the enemies on the Korean Peninsula and in the region would mean immediate war, an objective fact she said cannot be denied. The declaration communicates a readiness to escalate rapidly if the balance shifts unfavorably for North Korea. The focus on immediacy and inevitability reinforces the view that military parity is a shield against aggression and a critical means to retain strategic leverage in a volatile security environment that Pyongyang views as repeatedly challenged by external forces.
She pointed to the latest joint exercise conducted on November 3 by the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, noting the participation of fighter jets and B-1B strategic bombers. These drills, she argued, provide clear evidence of the hostile and aggressive nature of the actions by the opposition toward North Korea. The remarks frame allied training as a display of power near the peninsula and connect it to Pyongyang’s own deterrent posture. In this framing, external maneuvers are perceived as provocations that heighten regional tension rather than as standard defense planning.
Kim Yo Jong added that the steady escalation of military maneuvers by the United States and its partners poses a serious threat to peace and security for North Korea and for the wider region. The statements portray such activities as destabilizing provocations rather than routine drills, arguing they raise the risk of miscalculation and potential clash near the borders. This view aligns with Pyongyang’s long-standing position that alliance activity close to its territory is inherently provocative and requires a robust defensive response to safeguard national interests and regional stability.
According to the deputy leader, the policy of strengthening North Korea’s nuclear defense is the only correct path in the current climate, and there is no intention to deviate from it. The phrasing stresses continuity and fidelity to a strategic course that North Korea presents as necessary to protect sovereignty. The commitment to maintaining and expanding a nuclear deterrent is framed as a preventative measure to deter potential adversaries and stabilize a security environment that Pyongyang portrays as precarious, underscoring a consistent approach to national defense in the face of external pressure.
Earlier in October, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un stated that nuclear weapons would be used as a defensive measure in the event of an attack on the country. The remark highlights a doctrine that places nuclear arms as a shield against invasion, rather than tools of aggression from North Korea’s point of view. The message adds to a narrative of vigilance and readiness that has characterized the North’s strategic communications amid ongoing external pressure and sanctions, reinforcing a stance of deterrence and resolve in the face of perceived threats.
Previously, North Korea conducted a ballistic missile launch over the Sea of Japan. The action illustrates continued capability and willingness to demonstrate reach and resolve, feeding into a cycle of provocation that keeps regional neighbors on high alert. The episode sits within a broader pattern of North Korea’s ballistic testing, which Pyongyang frames as sovereignty and deterrence while others view it as a destabilizing action that complicates regional diplomacy and security planning, further intensifying regional security concerns.