North Korean leader Kim says US causing 'conflicting structu
North Korean leader Kim says US causing 'conflicting structure,' vows to bolster nuclear forces
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the US of standing behind the world's disputes, reaffirming the country's policy to further develop its nuclear forces
SEOUL —
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the US of standing behind the
world's disputes, reaffirming the country's policy to further develop its
nuclear forces, the North's state media reported on Sunday.
Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Ministry of
National Defence the previous day in celebration of the 77th anniversary of the
founding of its armed forces, the Korean People's Army, Yonhap reported quoting
the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Delivering a speech to military and political commanding
officers of the ministry, Kim referred to a series of new plans for bolstering
"all deterrence" and reaffirmed the country's "unshakable policy
of more highly developing the nuclear forces," KCNA said, without
providing details of the plans.
The leader claimed that US nuclear strategic assets deployed
on the Korean Peninsula, the US-led nuclear war simulation exercises and the
US-Japan-South Korea military cooperation are "inviting military
imbalance" on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia, causing "a new
conflicting structure" and posing a grave challenge to North Korea.
North Korea "does not want unnecessary tension" in
the region, Kim said, adding that, however, it will take "sustained
countermeasures to ensure the regional military balance" to prevent the
outbreak of a new war and ensure peace and security on the peninsula.
He also accused the US of "standing unfailingly behind
the world's big and small disputes and tragedies of bloodshed," stating
that this proves the regime's line of seeking "an unlimited defence
capability" is "most just."
Kim also blamed the US for the Russia-Ukraine war,
expressing "serious concern" that the US and Western countries are
prolonging the war with the "unrealisable dream to deal strategic setbacks
to Russia," the KCNA said.
North Korea's army and people "will invariably support
and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their
sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," Kim said, referring to
the mutual defence treaty he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last
year.
In a separate commentary, the KCNA also slammed joint South
Korea-US military drills that have taken place this year, accusing them of
heightening tensions.
"Hostile and risky actions will only lead to undesired
results" the KCNA said, without elaborating on what it meant by undesired
results.
North Korea has long denounced the allies' joint military
drills as a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korea and the US have said their
military exercises are defensive in nature.
