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A30 world news
Diaranson 13 october 2021

Kim vows to build ‘invincible’ military while slamming US

weapons, including inter- analyzing the North Korean diplomacy between the
continental ballistic missiles weapons displayed but didn’t countries fell apart in early
North Korea has already test- elaborate. 2019 after the Americans re-
launched or displayed dur- jected North Korea’s calls
ing military parades in recent In recent weeks North Korea for extensive sanctions relief
years, experts say. has sent mixed signals toward in return for partial disarma-
its rivals, as it resumed its ment steps.
Yang Wook, a military ex- missile tests after a six-month
pert who teaches at South hiatus but offered condition- The United States has re-
Korea’s Hannam University, al talks with South Korea. cently repeatedly offered talks
said the weapons in the pho- During his exhibition speech, with North Korea “anywhere
tos include what appears to Kim accused South Korea of and at any time” without pre-
be a new ICBM that North hypocrisy because it criticizes conditions. Kim has called
Korea disclosed during a North Korea’s weapons de- such an offer “cunning” at-
military parade last year but velopment as provocations tempt to conceal U.S. hostil-
hasn’t test-fired, Yang said. while spending heavily to ity against North Korea, as he
(AP) — North Korean U.S. is continuing to create That missile mounted on an increase its own military ca- wants Washington to ease the
leader Kim Jong Un re- tensions in the region with 11-axel launch vehicle dur- pabilities. But he still said his sanctions or suspend its regu-
viewed powerful missiles its wrong judgments and ac- ing the parade is considered military doesn’t target South lar military drills with Seoul
developed to launch nu- tions.” to be the North’s biggest-yet Korea. first before the talks can re-
clear strikes on the U.S. ICBM. sume.
mainland, as he vowed to Calling the United States a “I say once again that South
build an “invincible” mili- “source” of instability on the Other weapons on display Korea isn’t the one that our Despite its recent missile
tary to cope with what he Korean Peninsula, Kim said were another ICBM that military forces have to fight tests, Kim still maintains a
called persistent U.S. hos- his country’s most impor- North Korea tested in 2017; against,” Kim said. “Surely, 2018 self-imposed morato-
tility, state media reported tant objective is possessing ballistic missiles that can be we aren’t strengthening our rium on long-range missile
Tuesday. an “invincible military capa- fired from submarines or a defense capability because of tests directly targeting the
bility” that no one can dare train; solid-fueled, short- South Korea. We shouldn’t American homeland, a sign
In an apparent continued ef- challenge. range missiles; and a devel- repeat a horrible history that he still wants to keep
fort to drive a wedge between opmental hypersonic missile of compatriots using force alive chances for future talks
Washington and Seoul, Kim The exhibition, which that had its first test-flight against each other.” with Washington.
also used his speech at a rare KCNA says was meant to last month, said Lee Choon
exhibition of weapons sys- mark the 76th birthday of Geun, a missile expert at Some experts say North Ko- In 2017, North Korea con-
tems Monday to stress that the ruling Workers’ Party on South Korea’s Science and rea is attempting to use South ducted three ICBM tests
his military might isn’t tar- Sunday, was the first of its Technology Policy Institute. Korea’s desire to improve ties and claimed to have acquired
geted at South Korea and that kind since Kim took power to pressure it to convince the an ability to attack the U.S.
there shouldn’t be another in late 2011, according to “Basically, North Korea United States to relax pun- mainland with nuclear mis-
war pitting Korean people Seoul officials. North Korean wants to send this message: ishing economic sanctions siles. Lee, the expert, ques-
against each other. photos showed Kim, clad in ‘We’ll continue to develop on the North and make other tioned the North’s claim,
a dark suit, walking on a red new weapons and arm our- concessions. saying it needs to conduct
“The U.S. has frequently sig- carpet lined with big missiles selves with nuclear force, several more flight-tests to
naled it’s not hostile to our mounted on trucks, passing so don’t slap sanctions with North Korea has long sought prove it has overcome the
state, but there is no action- by a multiple rocket launch these as we can’t agree on the improved ties with the Unit- last remaining technological
based evidence to make us system and watching jets fly- double standards,’” Yang said. ed States because it wants hurdles such as one on pro-
believe that they are not hos- ing in a formation. sanctions relief and a better tecting a warhead from the
tile,” Kim said Monday, ac- Seoul’s Defense Ministry security environment to fo- extreme heat and pressure
cording to the official Korean The exhibition featured an said South Korean and U.S. cus on reviving its moribund after re-entering the Earth’s
Central News Agency. “The array of newly developed intelligence authorities were economy. The high-stakes atmosphere.

Qatar diplomat emphasizes engagement with Taliban at forum

(AP) — Qatar’s diplomat- zations. The sides have also certain responsibility, obliga- face talks between the Taliban Al-Qahtani explained why
ic point man on Afghani- discussed pressing issues re- tions to discharge.” and the United States. Qatar encourages engage-
stan said Tuesday coun- lated to the role of women in ment with the Taliban, who
tries should engage the society, girls’ access to educa- The current Afghan govern- Just this week, the U.S. and for years carried out suicide
country’s new Taliban rul- tion and the importance of an ment, which the Taliban say Taliban held more direct talks bombings and killings of
ers, warning that isolation inclusive government. is only interim, is comprised in Qatar’s capital, Doha, in troops and civilians. Although
could lead to instability solely of Taliban figures, in- their first such meeting since the group wants international
and a wide-reaching se- Qatar’s policies and insights cluding several blacklisted by the American troop with- recognition and agreed on a
curity threat, as happened on Afghanistan are watched the United Nations. drawal Aug. 31. Representa- peace deal with the U.S., it
when al-Qaida used the closely because the tiny gas- tives of the European Union has resorted to public hang-
country as a base to plot rich nation has played an “They need more collabora- and Taliban were holding ings and other brutal tactics
the 9/11 attacks. outsized role in the war-torn tion and more cooperation similar talks in Doha on since taking power.
country in the wake of the and more assistance from Tuesday.
Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qa- U.S. withdrawal. other countries,” al-Qahtani
htani, Qatar’s special envoy said, adding that engagement
for counterterrorism and “What we are saying to the with the world is the only
mediation in conflict resolu- Taliban, which is the care- way forward to stave off a hu-
tion, said he’s held conversa- taker government, the de manitarian catastrophe in the
tions with the Taliban about facto authorities in Kabul, impoverished nation.
combating terrorism. The (is that) discrimination and
Taliban, he said, are commit- exclusion... this is not a good Qatar was crucial to the cha-
ted to fighting the Islamic policy,” al-Qahtani said in a otic U.S. airlift of more than
State group, which is increas- speech at the Global Security 100,000 people from Kabul
ingly active in Afghanistan, Forum in Doha organized after the Taliban’s surprise
and ensuring the country is by The Soufan Center. “As a takeover of the capital Aug.
not used by terrorist organi- de facto authority, you have 15, and has hosted face-to-