North Korea has said growing military cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan justifies its decision to strengthen and expand its nuclear forces.
Vice Defence Minister Kim Kang Il made the remarks at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, where he accused Washington and its allies of increasing nuclear-related military pressure on Pyongyang.
Kim said North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state was irreversible and that the country would continue expanding its nuclear arsenal as part of what it describes as a self-defensive deterrent.
He argued that the military buildup by what North Korea considers hostile states had created the conditions for Pyongyang to reinforce its nuclear capabilities.
Kim also accused the United States of turning security cooperation among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo into what he described as a nuclear alliance.
North Korea has repeatedly condemned joint military exercises involving the United States and South Korea, saying they amount to preparations for an attack. Washington and Seoul have maintained that their exercises are defensive in nature.
Kim’s comments came shortly after Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, rejected renewed international calls for Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons.
In a statement carried by North Korean state media, Kim Yo Jong said the country’s nuclear status was permanent and dismissed international demands for denuclearisation.
The statements followed discussions at the International Atomic Energy Agency, where calls for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons were reiterated.
A North Korean defence ministry spokesman had also criticised recent US-South Korean discussions on responding to weapons of mass destruction, warning that such activities could prompt Pyongyang to take further measures under its nuclear policy.
Analysts said the statements appeared to be part of a broader effort by North Korea to reinforce its claim that its nuclear status cannot be reversed while creating a justification for continued military development.
North Korea’s appearance at the Beijing security forum also comes as Pyongyang seeks closer relations with China while maintaining a confrontational stance towards Washington and its allies.
Despite its hard-line nuclear position, North Korea has not completely ruled out the possibility of future dialogue with the United States. A former US special representative for North Korea said Pyongyang’s limited response to recent statements from US President Donald Trump could leave room for renewed talks.
For now, however, Pyongyang is signalling that it intends to continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities, while citing regional military developments as justification for its policy.
Leave a Reply