North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that the country is advancing its nuclear force policy to significantly increase the number of nuclear weapons, according to state media KCNA on Tuesday. Speaking on North Korea’s founding anniversary on Monday, Kim emphasized the necessity of enhancing the nation’s “nuclear capability and readiness to deploy it at any moment” to safeguard state security.
Kim underscored the importance of a robust military presence to counter “various threats posed by the United States and its allies.” He also highlighted North Korea’s perception of a “grave threat” from what it views as a US-led nuclear military bloc in the region.
In response, South Korea’s Deputy Defense Minister for Policy, Cho Chang-rae, along with his US and Japanese counterparts, condemned North Korea’s recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems and its series of ballistic missile tests. During a meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, the three nations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation to ensure regional peace, particularly in deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, according to a joint statement released by the US State Department.
The three countries also agreed to conduct a second trilateral military exercise, named Freedom Edge, in the near future. Additionally, South Korea will host a defense ministerial meeting with member states of the United Nations Command (UNC) on Tuesday. The UNC, led by the US military commander in South Korea, plays a critical role in policing the heavily fortified border with North Korea and is committed to defending South Korea in the event of a conflict.
Last month, Germany became the latest country to join the UNC, further bolstering the US-led UN border monitoring force. North Korea has condemned the UNC as an “illegal war organization” and criticized Germany’s involvement as a move that exacerbates tensions in the region.
