Seoul: A new law passed by North Korea suggests that the nation will strike first with nuclear weapons when it feels threatened or anticipating an imminent attack.
North Korea will carry out a preventive nuclear strike "automatically" and "immediately to destroy hostile forces," in the face of an imminent threat to Pyongyang from a foreign country, AFP reported sourcing the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Alongside, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly said that the status of the country as a nuclear weapons state has become "irreversible" with the enactment of the new law.
North Korea's more intimidating stance comes as its ties with neigbhour South Korea is weakening after Pyongyang blamed South Korea for the outbreak of covid 19 in its territory.
Kim in July threatened the United States and South Korea declaring that his country was "ready to mobilise" nuclear weapons against them in any war. He also added that his country would not give up nuclear weapons as it has to counter hostilities from Washington.
The relation between USA and North Korea has derailed since 2019 following US sanctions, and North Korea however would not stop its nuclear weapon programmes.
In what looked like a move to reach out to North Korea, the South offered to help the nation with food, energy and infrastructure help in return for giving up its nuclear programme.
North Korea termed the offer "height of absurdity" rejecting the deal.