Pyongyang regime is ready for an 'immediate and powerful' attack

During an important party meeting, Kim Jong-un announced a "new strategic weapon".  The official newspaper of the Workers' Party: "It is stupid to trade national dignity, security, progress, development and future for rice and money."  Appeals for a "self-sufficient" economy renewed.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Any attempt to violate the dignity and survival of the North Korean regime will be faced with an "immediate and powerful" attack.  Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers' Party, reported this morning, calling for all-out efforts to strengthen national defense.

During an important party meeting in late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened that the world will soon witness a "new strategic weapon".  Kim announced "real shocking action", accusing the United States of stalemate in negotiations on the denuclearization of Pyongyang and the simultaneous withdrawal of sanctions imposed by Washington.

Kim said he saw no reason to stick to his commitment to suspend long-range nuclear and missile tests;  that there will never be denuclearization of the Korean peninsula until the US changes its hostile policy towards the North.

"(We) should maintain an invincible military power and strengthen it," reads today's Rodong Sinmun editorial.  “Preventing anyone from thinking of using military power against us is our Party's main initiative in building national defense.  We should mobilize all the resources of our country for this effort ".

Reaffirming the concepts expressed by Kim during the Party meeting, the article continues: ""Current situations are making it a fait accompli to continue to live under sanctions imposed by hostile powers," the paper said. "It is an act of stupidity to barter away our national dignity, security and vibrant progress and development and glorious future for rice and money."

"History has proved that normal economic development is impossible without rendering sanctions useless ... We have found our own way to solve the problems of eating and wearing though we might not be able to turn things splendidly from an economic point of view”.  Finally, Rodong Sinmun urges the country to intensify efforts to build a "self-sufficient" economy, saying that making a "frontal turn" to combat sanctions is a struggle that will most likely prevail.