Is North Korea's Kim Turning the Military into an 'Invincible' Force?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kim Jong-un calls for an 'invincible' military.
- North Korea showcases the Hwasong-20 missile.
- No direct threats to South Korea or the U.S.
- Kim expresses openness for dialogue with the U.S.
- North Korean troops are involved in the conflict in Ukraine.
Seoul, Oct 11 (NationPress) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged the armed forces to evolve into an 'invincible' force during a military parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, as reported by state media on Saturday.
In a speech delivered on Friday night, Kim emphasized the need to enhance the nation's defense capabilities, without issuing direct threats towards South Korea or the United States.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North's leader asserted that the country's sovereignty can only be defended and guaranteed by strength.
"Our army must evolve into an invincible entity that neutralizes all threats within our self-defense range through its political, ideological, military, and technical superiority, thus transforming into elite armed forces that achieve victories based on morality and discipline," he stated.
His comments come amid North Korea's intensified development of missiles and other weaponry under its five-year defense strategy. The North also unveiled the new Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time at the recent military event.
Highlighting the military as a source of strength for the WPK, Kim praised the contributions of North Korean troops collaborating with Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as reported by the KCNA.
"The heroic spirit and victories displayed by our revolutionary armed forces on foreign battlefields for international justice and true peace reflect the ideological and spiritual excellence of our military," he noted.
Kim underscored the involvement of North Korean troops in the Ukraine conflict in front of foreign guests at the party anniversary celebrations, including Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.
The North's leader reiterated his commitment to oppose 'injustice and hegemony', remarks seemingly directed at the U.S. However, his speech did not contain any vehement comments against Washington or Seoul, according to Yonhap news agency.
At a significant parliamentary meeting last month, Kim expressed that he has 'good memories' of U.S. President Donald Trump and stated that North Korea is open to dialogue with the U.S. if Washington abandons its demand for the North's denuclearization.