Kim Kang Il, the Deputy Minister of Defense of North Korea, stated on Thursday at an international security conference in Beijing that the country is committed to strengthening its nuclear arsenal due to the increasing military capabilities of the United States and the expanding nuclear alliance among Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Justification for Nuclear Weapons Expansion
During this gathering, Kim pointed out that North Korea's status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible, saying: "The expansion of weapons led by the United States justifies our efforts to strengthen and expand our nuclear forces." He also referred to Washington's hostile policies towards Pyongyang and strongly criticized the trilateral cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
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Security Implications on the Korean Peninsula
The Deputy Minister of Defense of North Korea emphasized that nuclear threats from enemy countries (South Korea and Japan) have reached a high level, asserting that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will defend peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region by continuously expanding and strengthening its nuclear deterrence. He also added that North Korea's legal status as a nuclear state is a "red line of non-retreat" and urged other countries to abandon the "empty dream" of nuclear disarmament.
These remarks come as Seoul and Tokyo seek to acquire nuclear submarines, actions that have significantly heightened concerns in Pyongyang as well as in Beijing and Moscow. Kim Kang Il reiterated that North Korea will seriously continue to strengthen its nuclear arsenal, emphasizing the country's determination to maintain security and stability in the region.
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