North Korea: Kim Jong-un vows to step up nuclear weapons program
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a defiant speech at a military parade on Monday night, vowing to ramp up the country’s nuclear arsenal.
The parade, to mark the armed forces’ founding anniversary, also displayed banned intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
In March, North Korea tested its largest-known ICBM for the first time since 2017.
It sparked wide condemnation from the international community.
The US also imposed several sanctions on the country after the test. ICBMs, designed for nuclear arms delivery, extend North Korea’s strike range as far as the US mainland.
The parade also featured submarine-launched ballistic missiles in addition to hypersonic missiles.
However, Mr Kim has been undeterred by the condemnation so far.
“We will continue to take steps to strengthen and develop our nation’s nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace,” he said, adding that their nuclear forces “must be ready” to be exercised anytime, according to a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea’s nuclear weapons were fundamentally a deterrence tool against war but could be used for other means, he said, echoing previous rhetoric that the country would strike back if attacked.
Parade pictures released by state media show that the Hwasong-17 was among the weapons displayed at the parade. North Korea claimed to have test-fired the massive ICBM for the first time in March.
South Korean experts have questioned the success of the test launch.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES