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| Central Military Commission of the North Korean Workers' Party |
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean leadership adopted a decision to upgrade and develop its nuclear forces both quantitatively and qualitatively.
According to the agency, the Central Military Commission of the North Korean Workers' Party held a meeting on Thursday, chaired by Kim Jong Un, the party's general secretary and the country's leader.
The agency noted that the meeting made decisions regarding the modernization of the technical infrastructure of combat systems, and the strengthening of nuclear capabilities in terms of quality and quantity.
North Korea's nuclear forces are a cornerstone of its defensive and offensive strategy, and its arsenal is classified as designed for strategic deterrence and retaliatory strikes should the regime be threatened. International research centers estimate that North Korea possesses between 50 and 90 ready nuclear warheads, with enough fissile material to produce more quickly.
Regarding nuclear delivery systems, North Korea relies on diversification to ensure its ability to launch a counterstrike. It possesses intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), such as the Hwasong-17 and Hwasong-18 (solid-fueled), which can reach deep into the United States. It also has medium- and short-range missiles designed to target US bases in the Pacific (such as Guam), Japan, and South Korea. Pyongyang also possesses submarines capable of launching nuclear ballistic missiles from underwater, ensuring stealth and making detection difficult. In addition, the North Korean military has cruise missiles that fly at low altitudes and maneuver to evade air defenses.
