North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has outlined ambitious plans for 2024, pledging to launch three new spy satellites, develop military drones, and augment the country’s arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Kim Jong Un attributed the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula to unprecedented actions by the United States and its allies throughout 2023, asserting that these actions have brought the region dangerously close to nuclear conflict.

During a five-day gathering of the ruling Workers’ Party to establish state objectives for the upcoming year, Kim Jong Un emphasized the need to expedite efforts to acquire formidable war response capabilities. 

He stressed the importance of achieving comprehensive military preparedness to swiftly counter any provocations from adversaries.

According to reports from the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong Un articulated, “The grave situation requires us to accelerate works to acquire overwhelming war response capabilities and thorough and perfect military readiness to suppress any types of provocations by the enemies at a stroke.”

As part of the outlined plans, North Korea aims to launch three additional spy satellites in 2024, following the successful deployment of its first reconnaissance satellite in November. 

Kim Jong Un also directed the state to advance efforts in manufacturing more nuclear weapons and developing a variety of unmanned combat equipment, including armed drones and potent electronic warfare devices.

In response to North Korea’s actions, the US and South Korea expanded their military exercises, deploying strategic assets such as bombers, aircraft carriers, and a nuclear-armed submarine. North Korea condemned these moves as US-led invasion rehearsals.

Kim Jong Un asserted that these developments had transformed South Korea into a “forward military base and nuclear arsenal” for the US, making the term “war” a tangible reality rather than an abstract concept.

In light of these circumstances, Kim Jong Un expressed the necessity of strengthening ties with countries opposing the US. North Korea maintains close relations with both China and Russia. 

South Korea’s spy agency has recently warned of potential military provocations and cyberattacks by North Korea ahead of Seoul’s parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November.