Pyongyang has secured the right to use nuclear weapons at the legislative level.
North Korea has passed a law enshrining the right to use pre-emptive nuclear strikes for self-defense, making its nuclear status “irreversible” and prohibiting any talks on denuclearization, Reuters reported, citing a statement by Kim Jong-un .
According to the source, North Korea's parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly, passed the law on Thursday, September 8.
“The most important significance of the legislative policy on nuclear weapons is to draw an irreparable line so that there will be no negotiations on our nuclear weapons,” Kim Jong-un said in his address to the assembly.
North Korea has declared itself a nuclear power in its own constitution, but the new law goes beyond that provision and outlines exactly when nuclear weapons can be used. These are, in particular, cases in response to an enemy attack or stopping his invasion. It also allows pre-emptive nuclear strikes if a threat of an imminent attack with weapons of mass destruction or an attack against the country's “strategic objectives” is detected.
The new law also prohibits any exchange of nuclear weapons or technology with other countries.
One member of the assembly said the law would be a “powerful legal guarantee” to strengthen North Korea's position as of a nuclear-weapon state and will ensure the “transparent, consistent and standardized nature” of its nuclear policy.
Also read: North Korea covertly rebuilds nuclear test site – Open Nuclear Network
Earlier it was reported that the lack of weapons forces Russia to buy missiles and artillery from North Korea.
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How the new nuclear status of North Korea can affect Ukraine and whether the Kremlin will benefit from it, read in Serhii Korsunskyi's article “Will North Korea to fight on the side of Russia against Ukraine?”.
