North Korea boosts nuclear arsenal: Kim Jong-un blames 'various threats' from US and allies for increase
kim jong un
North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday (Sep 10) said that his country was steadily increasing its nuclear arsenal.
Speaking at an event marking the 76th anniversary of the country's founding, Kim claimed that Pyongyang was a "responsible" nuclear state, reported the state media.
As per state media images, the event in central Pyongyang was attended by thousands of people.
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Why is North Korea increasing its nuclear arsenal?
Kim Jong-un, as per AFP, credited the nuclear arsenal expansion to what he characterised as "more various threats" from the United States and its allies.
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He said that North Korea's "nuclear force" and its ability to deploy it "should be more thoroughly perfected".
The country will "steadily strengthen its nuclear force capable of fully coping with any threatening acts imposed by its nuclear-armed rival states," said the North Korea supreme leader.
He added that Pyongyang will also "redouble its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state, including the nuclear force, fully ready for combat".
However, he stressed that North Korea was a "responsible nuclear weapons state", and that "our nuclear weapons for defending ourselves do not pose a threat to anyone".
Tensions with South Korea
Kim's announcement about North Korea increasing its nuclear arsenal comes as the nation's relations with neighbour South Korea reach their lowest point. Recent months have seen the two countries escalate their enmity by blaring propaganda through speakers and sending balloons filled with trash and poop across borders.
Also read |North Korea sends more trash balloons to South amidst warning of `new counteraction` by Kim Yo Jong
North Korea, as per AFP, had previously vowed an "exponential increase" of its nuclear weaponry. The nation also routinely flaunts its arsenal at major events and state anniversaries.
"We believe that by 2027 North Korea can secure enough nuclear material for about 200 warheads and by 2030, this can reach 300," Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told AFP.
(With inputs from agencies)
