North Korea will 'automatically' launch nukes if Kim killed

[soryang]

By ALEXANDER WARD and LAWRENCE UKENYE 09/09/2022 03:54 PM EDT

...Kim’s move is likely in response to comments made by South Korean President YOON SUK-YEOL, who previously suggested that a preemptive strike on the “kill chain” in North Korea is necessary as Pyongyang prepares an attack. Indeed, Kim has now let the world know the red button may still get pushed even if he’s dead.

“In case the command and control system over the state nuclear forces is placed in danger owing to an attack by hostile forces, a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately to destroy the hostile forces including the starting point of provocation and the command according to the operation plan decided in advance,” the new law reads.

“The new law underscores the dangers of the U.S. and South Korea focusing on leadership decapitation strategies,” said ANKIT PANDA, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It was quite predictable that the North Koreans would go down the path of threatening automatic retaliation if Kim is killed.”

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2022/09/09/north-korea-will-automatically-launch-nukes-if-kim-killed-00055863