North Korea to ‘automatically’ use nukes against US if leadership threatened

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un said Thursday the country’s nuclear program isn’t going anywhere. North Korea enacted a law this week to ensure they will always have the option available to use nuclear weapons specifically against the United States. The new law signals automatic deployment of nukes if its leadership comes under attack.

“The purpose of the United States is not only to remove our nuclear might itself, but eventually forcing us to surrender or weaken our rights to self-defense through giving up our nukes, so that they could collapse our government at any time,” Kim said in the speech published by the country’s official Korean Central News Agency.

The new doctrine also takes denuclearization off the table in any talks with other nations. Kim described it as a step to cement the country’s nuclear status and make clear such weapons will not be bargained over. The law also says North Korea could use nukes to prevent an unspecified “catastrophic crisis” to its government and people, a loose definition that experts say reflect an escalatory nuclear doctrine that could create greater concerns for neighbors.

In his speech, Kim said North Korea will proactively use nukes if they feel threatened. This is just the latest provocative threat coming from the North against the U.S. The dictator also criticized South Korea and the U.S. for working together to boost South Korea’s military and airstrike capabilities. North Korea appears to be preparing to resume nuclear testing, something they haven’t done since 2017.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.