North Korea has threatened an automatic nuclear response
This is reported by the Daily Mail, citing South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
North Korea has amended its constitution to provide for an automatic nuclear strike in the event of Kim Jong-un’s death or his loss of the ability to command the army. According to intelligence reports, the amendments were approved during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly, which took place on 22 March in Pyongyang. The revised version of Article 3 of the DPRK’s Nuclear Policy Act states that a nuclear response must be “automatic and immediate” if the country’s nuclear command system is threatened by an enemy attack.
Pyongyang closely monitored the strikes on Iran
According to Iranian officials, the decision to amend the DPRK’s nuclear policy is linked to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several of his close associates during US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. Analysts believe that the events in Iran have caused serious concern among North Korea’s leadership. Andriy Lankov, a professor at Kukmin University in Seoul, stated that Pyongyang was likely impressed by the precision and speed of the strikes against Iran’s military and political leadership. According to experts, the new rules are intended to ensure that the DPRK can launch a nuclear strike even if Kim Jong-un is eliminated at the start of a war.
Kim Jong-un is stepping up security and preparing new weapons
Analysts note that the North Korean leader has long paid particular attention to his own security. Kim Jong-un rarely uses aeroplanes and mainly travels by armoured private train with enhanced security systems. Experts also highlight the high level of isolation in North Korea, which makes organising an operation similar to that in Iran significantly more difficult. Against this backdrop, North Korea has announced plans to deploy new long-range artillery near the border with South Korea. State media reported that Kim Jong-un visited an ammunition factory and inspected a new 155mm self-propelled howitzer. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the new system has a firing range exceeding 37 miles, enabling it to strike central areas of Seoul and parts of Gyeonggi Province.
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