North Korea to boost nuclear warhead production 'exponentially,' leader says
NBCDec 25, 2022
Kim Jong Un Vows 'Exponential' Increase in N. Korea's Nuclear Arsenal
Image copyright: KCNA/Reuters [via CNN]
The Facts
North Korean state media on Sunday reported that Kim Jong Un pledged to exponentially increase the country's nuclear arsenal, citing the need to counter threats from South Korea and the US. Kim alleged that the South and US have been isolating and suffocating the North.
Kim also set out plans to develop another intercontinental ballistic missile system to allow North Korea to deliver a "quick nuclear counterstrike" and stated that the country is about to launch its first military reconnaissance satellite.
The Spin
Republican narrative
You can’t blame Kim Jong Un for flexing North Korea’s military muscle when Biden is recklessly saber-rattling with Taiwan and China — how does he know the US won't also team up with South Korea for an invasion of the North? Trump's relationship with, and policies towards, North Korea maintained stability in the Korean Peninsula.
Democratic narrative
Kim Jong Un's geopolitical actions have been erratic, and his missile launches are destabilizing the Peninsula. Instead of provoking a confrontation, the leader should take the Biden administration up on its offer to meet without preconditions, and settle any grievances peacefully. Biden is showing strength and prudence in the region.
Establishment-critical narrative
The US has threatened to nuke North Korea, which has the right to defend itself. The US should stop playing "GloboCop" and prioritize solving its domestic problems.