North Korea will not use nuclear weapons first, says Kim Jong-un

[fred v]

Source: The Guardian (United Kingdom)

Saturday 7 May 2016 23.09 EDT

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong -un, has said his country will not use nuclear weapons unless its sovereignty is infringed on by others with nuclear arms, and that it is willing to normalise ties with “hostile” states, state media reported.

The north would faithfully fulfil its obligation for nuclear non-proliferation and strive to end nuclear buildup in the world, Kim said in a report to a congress of its ruling Workers’ party (WPK) which opened on Friday, the KCNA news agency said.

The first congress in 36 years began with much fanfare amid anticipation by the South Korean government and experts that the young leader would try to use it to further consolidate power in the state he took over in 2011 after his father’s sudden death.

“As a responsible nuclear weapons state, our republic will not use a nuclear weapon unless its sovereignty is encroached upon by any aggressive hostile forces with nukes,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying. “And it will faithfully fulfil its obligation for non-proliferation and strive for the global denuclearisation.”

“The WPK and the DPRK government will improve and normalise the relations with those countries which respect the sovereignty of the DPRK and are friendly towards it, though they had been hostile toward it in the past.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/08/north-korea-will-only-use-nuclear-weapons-if-sovereignty-is-threatened

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Translation: "We got nothing! Our missiles don't work! Please send more food before my fat ass becomes food!"

[Little Tich]

1. Mad dictator with nuclear weapons assures the world of his peaceful intentions...

Why am I not feeling reassured?

[Eugene]

2. ...unless its sovereignty is encroached by "invasive hostile forces with nuclear weapons"

Kim Jong Un: We'll only use nuclear weapons if sovereignty threatened (CNN)

That's not as clear a no-first-use pledge as The Guardian's headline implies especially
since North Korea routinely claims its sovereignty is infringed and threatened during
US-South Korean military exercises.

[braddy]

3. It's North Korea, so you can take this to the bank!

[Kablooie]

4. Sounds like he's scared that Trump will win.

He knows that Trump is insane enough to drop bombs on Pyongyang simply because he's insulted by their propaganda.

I guess that's one thing good about a Trump presidency.
When the keys to the world's largest atomic arsenal are handed to a petulant child other countries will have to play nice.

"You're a bad man. I wish you into the cornfield!"

[murielm99]

5. No! No!

It's good. It's a GOOD day!

[davidpdx]

8. Trump has also said he'll remove US troops from countries

South Korea has 28,500 soldiers protecting the country. The thought of him pulling those troops is scary.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Kim Jong-Un

the Wily Coyote of world leaders. He'd just blow himself up.

[uhnope]

7. I wonder if that shitty regime will ever collapse & go away

like the USSR

[davidpdx]

9. I think it is possible, but only time will tell

More information is getting into North Korea from the outside. Lots of DVD players, DVDs, memory sticks, and some have been able to adjust their TV to get South Korean stations. A good portion know what is going on outside their country and that is growing.

A collapse of the regime will be a mess though. The US has a contingency plan if it does happen.

[Javaman]

10. yup, it's the time of the year. it's like clockwork...

they just came out of winter and are low on food stocks.

"Send us food aid! if you don't we will consider that a nuclear bomb against our country!"

[derby378]

11. If Grandpa was the Great Leader and Pops was the Dear Leader...

...what does that make this guy?

[BunkieBandit]

12. Can't use 'em if ya ain't got 'em.