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North Korea: On 1 April the government convened the seventh session of the 12 Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) in Pyongyang, pursuant to the Central Committee's directions on 31 March for legislation to institutionalize the nuclear armed forces, to develop the economy and to approve various appointments. The centerpiece of the meeting was "a law on consolidating the position of nuclear weapons state for self-defense (sic). "
"An ordinance of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in this regard was promulgated on Monday, 1 April."
"The DPRK is a full-fledged nuclear weapons state capable of beating back any aggressor troops at one strike, firmly defending the socialist system and providing a sure guarantee for the happy life of the peopleā¦."
"The Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK decides to consolidate the position of the nuclear weapons state as follows:
1. The nuclear weapons of the DPRK are just means for defense as it was compelled to have access to them to cope with the ever-escalating hostile policy of the U.S. and nuclear threat.
2. They serve the purpose of deterring and repelling the aggression and attack of the enemy against the DPRK and dealing deadly retaliatory blows at the strongholds of aggression until the world is denuclearized.
3. The DPRK shall take practical steps to bolster up the nuclear deterrence and nuclear retaliatory strike power both in quality and quantity to cope with the gravity of the escalating danger of the hostile forces' aggression and attack.
4. The nuclear weapons of the DPRK can be used only by a final order of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army to repel invasion or attack from a hostile nuclear weapons state and make retaliatory strikes.
5. The DPRK shall neither use nukes against the non-nuclear states nor threaten them with those weapons unless they join a hostile nuclear weapons state in its invasion and attack on the DPRK.
6. The DPRK shall strictly observe the rules on safekeeping and management of nukes and ensuring the stability of nuclear tests.
7. The DPRK shall establish a mechanism and order for their safekeeping and management so that nukes and their technology, weapon-grade nuclear substance may not leak out illegally.
8. The DPRK shall cooperate in the international efforts for nuclear non-proliferation and safe management of nuclear substance on the principle of mutual respect and equality, depending on the improvement of relations with hostile nuclear weapons states.
9. The DPRK shall strive hard to defuse the danger of a nuclear war and finally build a world without nukes and fully support the international efforts for nuclear disarmament against nuclear arms race.
10. The related institutions shall take thorough practical steps for implementing this ordinance."
The Assembly also amended the constitution, passed a law on space development, and approved necessary organizational changes. It replaced two members of the powerful National Defense Commission.
The practice of using the threat of war to achieve political or operational gains. The North has done this before. It threatened war when it and China withdrew from and dismantled the Military Armistice Commission in 1994. It also has gone to semi-war state of readiness to cover its activities at Yongbyon, such as refueling the reactor without international supervision. Once Kim Il-sung threatened war to establish the North's right of transit for maritime ships from the port of Haeju to sail between the South Korean held islands off the west coast en route the Yellow Sea.
All three Kims now have used the threat of war to cover their achievement of controversial domestic issues without US interference, as well as to advance international issues. The leadership's willingness to pay such costs measures its continuing inability to gauge accurately Allied reaction, after 60 years.
The North's manipulation of combat readiness measures does not mean it was bluffing. The cost of the civilian mobilization and the increased military readiness steps establish that the North genuinely was prepared to go to general war, but had not made the final decision. Uncertain about the US response, they prepared for the worst.
The situation still is dangerous. There is no armistice. The state of war still exists, as it has for 60 years, and the North's leaders know they can bluff. However, they made the people pay a heavy price for "the new line." The limited information from the rear suggests the country, including the army, is exhausted.