Pyongyang warns Korean peninsula on brink of nuclear war

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York (USA) on September 26, North Korean Ambassador Kim Song said that 2023 is an "extremely dangerous" year when the Korean peninsula is in a precarious situation with the threat of nuclear war that could break out at any time.

According to AFP, the diplomat criticized the actions of the South Korean government along with allies and partners such as the US and Japan that led to the above situation.

North Korean Ambassador Kim Song speaks at the United Nations General Assembly on September 26.

Mr. Kim noted that the US and South Korea have been conducting regular military exercises and recently established a Nuclear Consultative Group aimed at “planning and executing a preemptive nuclear strike on North Korea.” Ambassador Kim also mentioned the tense statements from the US and South Korea, including warnings to “end the regime” in Pyongyang.

"Under such circumstances, it is urgent for the DPRK to further push forward the building of solid self-defense capabilities," Kim said. The diplomat stated that the more reckless its military moves and provocations become, the more the DPRK will strive to strengthen its defense capabilities in proportion.

In response, South Korea's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Kim Sang-jin criticized North Korea for making baseless, illogical and unreasonable accusations.

"Do you really believe, as North Korea says, that South Korea and the United States are plotting to ignite a nuclear war on the Korean peninsula without reason, a war that will cause catastrophic casualties?" the South Korean diplomat said.

A North Korean missile launch

Speaking at the congress, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that a nuclear arms race was brewing and the number of nuclear weapons could increase for the first time in decades.

"Any use of nuclear weapons at any time, anywhere and in any context would result in a humanitarian catastrophe of immense proportions," Mr. Guterres said. The leader warned that the nuclear arms race was pushing the world to the brink of destruction and called for a reversal.

World nuclear arsenal expands, China increases significantly

The number of nuclear warheads in the world has fallen by about 1.6% to 12,512, but the decline is now reversing, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). In addition to warheads earmarked for destruction, the number of usable nuclear weapons is growing, with China the largest. SIPRI said China has increased its nuclear arsenal from 350 to 410 warheads.

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