A fresh US intelligence report, which was released on Monday, expressed concern regarding North Korea's possible use of chemical weapons, in addition to other perils presented by the reclusive nation.
The report, which the Office of the Director of National Intelligence compiles annually, is an assessment of global threats from the US intelligence community.
North Korea's Chemical Weapons
It encompassed deliberations on the recent activities and whereabouts of nations with anti-American sentiments, such as Russia and China, as well as the current status of specific types of aggression, such as cyber and nuclear strikes.
Moreover, the report revealed a comprehensive analysis of North Korea, an authoritarian and highly isolated East Asian country notorious for its recurrent threats against South Korea and the United States.
The report mentioned North Korea's use of chemical weapons at one point, and it also explored their possible uses beyond traditional military operations and their potential for future advancements.
Significantly, North Korea has faced allegations of orchestrating the scheme that resulted in the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam, the elder sibling of leader Kim Jong Un, through the use of VX nerve toxins, a chemical weapon, applied to his face by two unwitting women at an airport in Malaysia.
In addition, the report asserts that North Korea and Kim Jong Un will persist in establishing alliances with crucial foreign allies in an effort to achieve economic stability, security, and international recognition as nuclear powers.
It further states that these objectives have been impeded by "nearly two decades of severe United Nations sanctions and its self-imposed COVID-19 lockdown."
The report noted that North Korea has been supplying Russia with munitions for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine as part of this objective.
The North Korean arsenal was estimated to contain approximately 30 nuclear warheads as of January 2023, with the necessary materials to produce an additional 50-70, according to the Arms Control Association.
North Korea's Increased Military Preparation
Recently, Kim Jong Un was seen holding a gun during an inspection of a significant operational training base, encouraging his military to increase actual war drills, according to state media on Thursday.
Clad in a black leather jacket, Kim Jong Un was seen conversing with rows of heavily armed soldiers in camouflage, supervising firing drills, and examining weaponry, as depicted in images from the official Korean Central News Agency.
During his visit on Wednesday to the base in the country's western region, Kim instructed the North Korean army to 'steadily intensify the actual war drills aimed at rapidly improving its combat capabilities for perfect war preparedness,' as reported by KCNA.
The visit coincides with Seoul and Washington carrying out their yearly spring military drills, dubbed 'Freedom Shield,' which include field exercises, missile interception drills, and live firing.
Pyongyang described the drills as "reckless" and cautioned the allies that they would face a significant cost. North Korea has criticized joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, labeling them as practice for a potential invasion.
Seoul stated on Tuesday that its military was fully prepared for any potential provocations from North Korea. In the past, North Korea has conducted weapons tests in response to similar joint exercises.
This year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its main adversary, disbanded organizations focused on reunification and engagement and warned of conflict over even the smallest territorial violation.
Kim Jong Un reiterated last month that Pyongyang would not hesitate to take action against South Korea if attacked.
North Korea fired an artillery barrage near two South Korean border islands in January, leading to a live-fire drill by the South and evacuation orders for residents. This occurred as Kim intensified military preparedness at the beginning of the year.
Experts caution that North Korea may be conducting tests on cruise missiles before potentially sending them to Russia for deployment in Ukraine. Both Washington and Seoul allege that Kim has transferred weapons to Moscow, in violation of numerous UN sanctions.
According to Han Kwon-hee from the Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies, North Korea may be showcasing the capability of their missiles through recent launches to demonstrate to Russians before sending them to Moscow.
According to Daily Mail, testing cruise missiles is not prohibited under the current UN sanctions on Pyongyang, unlike ballistic missiles. Cruise missiles are typically jet-propelled and fly at a lower altitude than more advanced ballistic missiles, making them more challenging to detect and intercept.
