North Korea vows to boost nuclear arsenal amid ‘grave threat’ from US-led allies.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to significantly ramp up the nation’s nuclear capabilities to counter “hostile forces”.
Delivering a speech on Monday marking the 76th founding anniversary of North Korea’s government, Kim said the country faces a “grave threat” due to the “reckless expansion” of the US-led regional military alliance.
This was construed as a reference to recent defense pacts allowing the integration of US nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons.
Pyongyang has protested such moves as purportedly revealing invasion plots, while Washington and Seoul maintain their drills are defensive in nature.
Since last year, North Korea has drastically stepped up weapons testing. It recently unveiled a new ICBM launch platform and resumed balloon launches towards the South.
Citing the emerging “nuclear threat”, Kim pledged to make all military forces, including nukes, fully ready for combat through amplified efforts and retaliatory moves.
North Korea is believed to possess around 50 warheads as per estimates. It remains subject to sanctions for its atomic and missile drive, with the last nuclear test in 2017.
Tensions have flared on the peninsula amid an impasse in denuclearisation talks between Pyongyang and global powers led by the US.
