North Korea determined to strengthen nuclear capabilities 'both quality and quantity'

(Baonghean.vn) - On May 9, KCNA news agency reported that North Korea will step up the development of self-defense nuclear weapons capabilities "both in quality and quantity" in a decision adopted at the 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Foreign reporters work at a hotel in central Pyongyang, North Korea on May 8. Photo: Reuters.

According to KCNA, the decision was made after a review of the work of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea on the third working day.

In addition, the Workers' Party Congress of North Korea has approved that it will only use nuclear weapons in case its sovereignty is violated first by nuclear-armed countries. This is also the content that leader Kim Jong-un mentioned in his speech on May 7.

The 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea is being held after 36 years, with the South Korean government and experts saying that leader Kim Jong-un will take advantage of this event to further consolidate power.

In another development, on May 8, a senior US diplomatic official said Washington and its allies will “not sit idly by” in the face of Pyongyang’s so-called “provocative” actions related to its nuclear and missile programs.

The official stressed that “the Obama administration is committed to strengthening missile defense capabilities around the world, especially on the Korean Peninsula. The United States and our allies will not stand idly by in the face of Pyongyang’s provocative ballistic missile launches and nuclear tests. North Korea cannot achieve security, prosperity, and respect without abandoning its nuclear and missile programs.”

North Korea has continued to conduct missile and nuclear tests, despite strong sanctions from the UN Security Council. Photo: AP.

Following North Korea's long-range missile launch in February, South Korea and the United States announced that they would launch formal discussions on the possibility of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in South Korea to guard against any threats from Pyongyang.

North Korea was hit with the toughest sanctions yet from the United Nations in March after it conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket a month later. But it has defied the international community by vowing to continue its nuclear and missile testing programs.

Lan Ha

(According to Reuters, Yonhap)