Kim Jong-un Promises To Increase North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Exponentially

Kim Jong-un while watching North Korea's ballistic missile salvo. (Source: KCNA)

Kim Jong-un Promises To Increase North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Exponentially

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country is now implementing a nuclear power development policy to increase the number of nuclear weapons "exponentially", state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

In a speech commemorating North Korea's founding on Monday, Leader Kim said his country should be more thorough in preparing its "nuclear capability and readiness to use it properly at certain times in ensuring the country's security rights," KCNA reported.

Strong military presence is needed to deal with "the various threats posed by the United States and its followers," he added.

Leader Kim further said North Korea was facing a "serious threat" from what it saw as a US-led nuclear-based military bloc in the region.

Meanwhile, South Korea's Deputy Defense Minister for Cho Chang-rae policy, and its US and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday condemned the diversification of Pyongyang's recent nuclear delivery, test, and launch systems of several Pyongyang ballistic missiles.

Meeting in Seoul, the three reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation to ensure peace in the region, including by blocking North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, according to a joint statement released by the US State Department.

The three also agreed to hold a second trilateral military exercise known as Freedom Edge in the near future.

Separately, South Korea will also hold a defense minister meeting with United Nations (UNC) member states on Tuesday led by US military commanders stationed by the Ginseng Country.

Last month, Germany was the latest to join UNC in South Korea to help oversee the heavily fortified border with North Korea, committed to defending Seoul in the event of a war.

Pyongyang itself criticized UNC as an "illegal war organization" and the entry of Germany into US-led UN border monitoring forces as an increase in tensions.