North Korea’s Kim doubles down on nuclear buildup (opens original article in a new tab)

North Korea's Kim Jong-un doubled down on nuclear weapons buildup, reaffirming the country's commitment to expanding its arsenal and portraying nuclear weapons as essential for national defense. The ruling party's meeting emphasized a confrontational stance toward South Korea and the US, criticizing the South Korea-US alliance and citing South Korea's nuclear submarine initiative as justification for military expansion. Kim also called for strengthening border defenses and military infrastructure.

• North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed the country's commitment to expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal
• The Workers' Party of Korea's plenary meeting emphasized nuclear weapons as a foundation for national defense and military deterrence
• North Korea criticized the South Korea-US alliance and cited South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine initiative to justify its military buildup
• Kim called for strengthening the 'southern border' and building new naval bases and military infrastructure