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Seoul, South Korea
North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong Un said on Monday (Oct 7) that his country would speed up toward becoming a military superpower with nuclear weapons, the state news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday. Kim made this remark during a speech at the Kim Jong Un National Defense University.
For decades, North Korea has pursued a nuclear weapons program and is believed to have enough fissile materials to build dozens of the weapons.
KCNA reported on Tuesday that Kim mentioned South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol by name for the second time in a week in denouncing Seoul for colluding with Washington to destabilise the region to gloss over the fact it does not even have proper strategic weapons.
'Have no intention of attacking South Korea'
"Yoon Suk Yeol made some tasteless and vulgar comment about the end of the Republic in his speech, and it shows he is totally consumed by his blind faith in his master's strength," Kim said, referring to South Korea's alliance with the United States.
Also read | South Korea warns North of ‘end of Kim’s regime’ if it uses nuclear weapons
He pointed out that Pyongyang had no intention of attacking Seoul.
"Every time I stated our position on the use of military force, I clearly and consistently used the qualification 'if.' If the enemies try to use force against our country, the Republic's military will use all offensive power without hesitation. This does not preclude the use of nuclear weapons," North Korea's supreme leader added.
Seoul's warning to Pyongyang
Kim's remarks came a week after South Korean President Yoon warned North Korea against using nuclear weapons.
Also watch | Newspoint: North Korea's Kim Jong Un oversees artillery exercise
"That day will see the end of the North Korean regime," Yoon said as his country marked an annual armed forces day with a large military parade showcasing a ballistic missile capable of carrying a massive warhead and featuring a flypast of a US strategic bomber.
(With inputs from agencies)