The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, announced the country's intention to significantly increase its nuclear forces, developing them "in geometric progression." As reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA, Kim made this statement during the celebration of the anniversary of the founding of North Korea, Reuters reports.
In his speech, Kim emphasized that his country continues to strengthen its nuclear potential in order to be ready to use weapons "at any time" to protect the state from threats. According to him, powerful military forces are necessary to counter the growing threats from the United States and its allies.
North Korea is concerned about the growing influence of the nuclear-armed bloc, which it believes is led by the United States. Kim Jong-un emphasized that his country is preparing for serious challenges related to these blocs, which threaten Pyongyang's security.
Against the backdrop of this statement, representatives of South Korea, the United States and Japan met in Seoul to condemn North Korea's nuclear buildup and continued ballistic missile tests. South Korean Vice Defense Minister Cho Chan-rae, along with his American and Japanese counterparts, reaffirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation to contain the threat from North Korea.
In a joint statement from the US State Department, it is noted that the countries will strengthen their cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region, in particular by countering North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
