North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced that the country is pursuing a policy to exponentially increase its nuclear weapons arsenal. State media outlet KCNA reported the statement on Tuesday, following Kim’s speech marking the anniversary of North Korea’s founding, reported Reuters.
Kim emphasized the need for North Korea to strengthen its “nuclear capabilities and readiness to use them at any time to ensure national security.” He said this was crucial to counter what he called threats posed by the United States and its allies.
Kim also described the “serious threat” posed by a U.S.-led nuclear military bloc in the region. Meanwhile, South Korea and its allies condemned North Korea’s recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, missile tests, and launches, affirming their commitment to trilateral cooperation and joint military drills known as “Edge of Freedom.”
International tensions have intensified as Germany recently joined the UN Command overseeing the fortified border between South and North Korea. This move has drawn sharp criticism from Pyongyang, which denounced the UN Command as an “illegal military organization.”
