North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to continue building up his country’s nuclear arsenal as a deterrent to the “grave threat” posed by the US and its allies.
The dictator made the claims during a speech to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the country’s founding as he pledged to forge ahead with efforts to maintain the country’s defence.
The United Nations has sanctioned the country over the expansion of its nuclear programme, with Pyongyang enshrining the right to establish itself as a nuclear power in its constitution last year.
In the speech, Kim said: “As the reckless expansion of the military bloc system led by the US and its development into the character of a nuclear-based military bloc, the military security environment around the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) has come close to us as a grave threat.”
Mr Kim promised to “steadily strengthen” its nuclear capabilities to the point that they are able to cope with “any threatening actions by its nuclear-armed rival states.”
The anniversary saw Kim receive messages of congratulations on Monday from several similarly anti-western world leaders.
China’s President Xi Jinping praised the “socialist cause” that has characterised Kim’s time as leader whilst Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “I am sure that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and the DPRK will be strengthened in a planned way thanks to our joint efforts.”
The rhetoric comes at a time of increased tension between Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul, as expressed in an official statement from the chief of the Public Information Office of the Ministry of National Defence of North Korea published earlier this week in the Pyongyang Times, as reported by the Daily Star.
Titled “Provocateurs can never evade the heavy responsibility for escalating tension”, the article lashed out at the joint military drill carried out by the US and South Korea in August. It also warned: “The provocative anti-DPRK military drills being staged by the US and the ROK under the eyes of the DPRK without a time gap from the outset of this year clearly show what the source of escalating tension is and where the hostile forces can never evade the heavy responsibility for escalating tension and will have to pay a dear price.
“It is a well-known fact that the accumulation of such threatening actions on the Korean peninsula, the hottest spot in the state of armistice in the world, will only spark off tensions and drive the security environment in the region into an irreversibly catastrophic situation.”
Over the past months, the secretive state has forged closer relations with Russia. In June this year, the Russian president visited North Korea, his first official trip to the country in 24 years.
Putin received a red carpet welcome as he and Kim embraced flanked by a military guard of honour.
The two pariah states have strengthened their relations as North Korea seeks help with space technology as well as food and fuel.
In a letter published in North Korean state media, Putin promised to build trade and security systems with Pyongyang “that are not controlled by the West.”
Similarly, it is believed that the Kremin has identified Pyongyang as a remedy to its growing shortage of weapons in its war in Ukraine.
In light of the visit, concern emerged about the deepening relationship between the two countries.
John Nilsson-Wright, head of the Japan and Koreas programme at Cambridge University’s Centre for Geopolitics, said Putin is “strengthening ties with its old Cold War partner” in an effort to “counter any suggestion that the US and its allies have been able to isolate Moscow.”