North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a rapid expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal, criticizing the recent US-South Korea military exercises, labeling them an “obvious expression of their will to provoke war,” according to state media KCNA on Tuesday.
This week, South Korea and the United States commenced joint military drills, which include testing an upgraded response to North Korea’s escalating nuclear threats. Pyongyang consistently condemns these drills as rehearsals for invasion. In contrast, Seoul and Washington assert that their actions are purely defensive.
The 11-day annual exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, will mirror the scale of 2024’s drills. However, South Korea’s military announced that they rescheduled 20 out of 40 field training events to September as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expresses a desire to ease tensions with North Korea. Nevertheless, analysts remain skeptical about Pyongyang’s potential response.
Kim’s Strong Statements on Security
During a visit to a navy destroyer on Monday, Kim stated that the security environment necessitated a “rapid expansion” of North Korea’s nuclear armament, emphasizing that the recent US-South Korea exercises included a “nuclear element.” Kim described the drills as a “clear expression of … their intention to remain most hostile and confrontational” toward North Korea.
Efforts by the United States and its allies to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons development will likely be a key topic at an upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington.
Hong Min, a North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, stated, “Through this move, North Korea is demonstrating its refusal to accept denuclearization and its will to irreversibly upgrade nuclear weapons.”
North Korea’s Nuclear Capabilities
A report by the Federation of American Scientists last year indicated that North Korea may have produced enough fissile material to create up to 90 nuclear warheads. However, it likely has assembled closer to 50 warheads.
In addition to its nuclear ambitions, North Korea plans to construct a third 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October next year as it is also actively testing cruise and anti-air missiles for these warships.
