North Korea steps up nuclear threat against US

Kim Jong-un steps up military preparations in response to tensions with US and its allies

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening his country’s nuclear arsenal, declaring that additional efforts are being made to prepare his military force for an eventual confrontation with USA and its allies. According to state media, this announcement comes amid growing concerns about the possible launch of longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Kim’s speech, which marked the 76th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, reflected his concern over what he described as the reckless expansion of a US-led military bloc in the region, now with nuclear capabilities. This situation, Kim said, is pushing his country to strengthen its defences, stressing that the North’s nuclear force must be fully combat ready.

Military escalation on the peninsula

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have recently escalated with North Korea resuming provocative activities, including launching debris balloons toward South Korea. These actions are a response to joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which Kim says represent rehearsals for an invasion.

North Korea has expressed its opposition to a new defence directive signed in July by Washington and Seoul, which seeks to integrate US nuclear weapons with South Korea’s conventional ones. Pyongyang says the move reveals its adversaries’ intentions to attack the regime.

Nuclear tests on the horizon

Outside experts believe that North Korea could conduct intercontinental ballistic missile tests or even a nuclear test ahead of the US presidential election in November in an attempt to increase its leverage in future diplomatic negotiations with Washington.

Despite no notable military displays during the anniversary of the country’s founding, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published an image of Kim inspecting a missile launch vehicle, fueling speculation that North Korea may be developing a new missile more powerful than its current Hwasong-17.

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Meanwhile, the United States continues to closely monitor North Korea’s activities and reaffirms its commitment to regional defense, working in collaboration with its allies in Asia.