He was speaking in parliament as a law was passed allowing Pyongyang to use pre-emptive nuclear strikes to protect itself, a move likely to fuel further tensions in the region. The law defines the conditions under which North Korea could use nuclear weapons, including when it judges its leadership faces an imminent “nuclear or non-nuclear attack by hostile forces.” “The paramount importance of legislative policy on nuclear weapons is to draw an irretrievable line so that there can be no negotiations on our nuclear weapons,” he said. “Let them sanction us for 100 days, 1,000 days, 10 years or 100 years. “We will never give up our rights to self-defense that protects the existence of our country and the safety of our people just to temporarily alleviate the hardships we are experiencing now.” The law requires North Korea’s military to launch “automatic” nuclear strikes against enemy forces, including at the “starting point of provocation and command,” if Pyongyang’s leadership is attacked. Announcing the new law, Mr Kim said it made its nuclear regime “irreversible” and banned any denuclearization talks. He criticized South Korea for its plans to expand its conventional strike capabilities and revive large-scale military exercises with the US, calling them “dangerous”. “The goal of the United States is not only to remove our nuclear power itself, but ultimately to force us to surrender or weaken our rights to self-defense by giving up our nukes, so that they can collapse our government at any time.” The move comes as observers say the North appears poised to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 2017, after historic summits with then-US President Donald Trump and other world leaders in 2018 failed to convince Pyongyang to give up its weapons development. Analysts say Kim’s goal is to win international acceptance of North Korea’s status as a “responsible nuclear state.” The US and South Korea have offered to hold talks with Mr Kim, an offer Pyongyang has so far rejected. Additional reports from agencies
