The North Korean leader claims he is reacting to “worrisome military maneuvers by the United States and other hostile forces.”
Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, has stated that he intends to “exponentially” boost the country’s nuclear weapons.
Mr. Kim stated at a Workers’ Party gathering that “overwhelming military might” was required to defend the nation’s interests against threats from South Korea and the United States.
He stated that the two countries were attempting to “isolate and suffocate” North Korea, with US nuclear assets stationed in South Korea – a “never-before-seen” occurrence.
Mr. Kim was quoted by the official Korean Central News Agency as saying, “The current situation necessitates redoubling efforts to massively bolster the military in response to the alarming military movements by the United States and other hostile forces.”
He referred to South Korea as “our undeniable enemy” and added that it is “dedicated to an imprudent and perilous military buildup.”
He continued, “It emphasizes the significance and necessity of mass-producing tactical nuclear weapons and asks for an exponential expansion of the nation’s nuclear arsenal.”
“We have stated our unwavering intent to react with nukes for nukes and all-out conflict for all-out conflict.”
The 38-year-old demanded the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles and the launch of the nation’s first military satellite “at the earliest possible date.”
It comes barely hours after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over the sea to the east of the Korean Peninsula in the early hours of the first day of the new year.
Saturday also saw the launch of three ballistic missiles by Pyongyang, capping a year with a record amount of missile tests.
There are rising rumors that North Korea is poised to conduct its sixth nuclear test.
The relationship between North and South Korea has always been tight, but it has worsened since South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol promised a harder stance toward Pyongyang.
