North Korea has decided to expand its nuclear weapons capacity to increase its deterrence against the US and South Korea. The country's official news agency KCNA announced that the decision was approved at an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Central Military Commission on Thursday.
The military measures adopted at the meeting included strengthening the nuclear force in both quantity and quality, merging military bases, and advancing the modernization plan. It was also decided to update the technical infrastructure of combat systems and accelerate the construction of modern naval bases.
KCNA reported that leader Kim Jong-un stressed in his speech at the meeting that the country's security and integrity can only be ensured by a strong army and by countering all threats.
New weapon tests
Earlier this month, Kim Jong-un personally oversaw the weapons tests of the 5,000-ton naval destroyer Kang Kon and pledged to equip the North Korean navy with nuclear weapons.
Nuclear state claim
North Korea has defined itself as a nuclear state since the failed Hanoi summit between then-US President Donald Trump and Kim in 2019. The isolated country is subject to a series of international sanctions because it has committed to continuing to develop its nuclear program, which it sees as the primary deterrent against the US and South Korea.
Since the 1950-1953 conflict between North and South Korea ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, the two countries are technically still at war.