Pyongyang [North Korea], March 25 (ANI): North Korean leader Kim Jong Un defended his country’s maintenance of nuclear weapons, saying the war involving Iran shows the need for a strong military deterrent, the South Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
In remarks to the Supreme People’s Assembly, KCNA quoted Kim accusing the United States of carrying out “terrorism and invasions” in various regions, referring to Washington’s conflict with Iran without naming US President Donald Trump. “Dignity, interest and the final victory of a country can only be guaranteed by the most powerful might,” he said. “Whether the enemies choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence, that’s their choice, and we are ready to respond to any choice.”
Kim vowed to further develop North Korea’s “defensive nuclear deterrence” and keep a “prompt and precise” nuclear response posture to counter “strategic threats” to national and regional security. He said North Korea “will continue to solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state … while aggressively staging campaigns to crush any provocations by hostile forces,” KCNA reported.
He also escalated rhetoric toward South Korea, formally declaring it the “most hostile nation” and saying Pyongyang would “thoroughly ignore and disregard it” through clear words and actions, warning of “merciless” consequences if Seoul provokes North Korea.
Separately, US President Trump earlier said negotiations were under way with Iran and suggested the war would end, claiming Iran’s military capabilities had been largely destroyed. Iran has not formally confirmed negotiations; on Tuesday Iranian officials denied talks with the US and said peace would only come when the US and Israel stop their campaign. With Iran continuing retaliatory strikes—its military said it launched a further wave of attacks—peace in the region remains elusive. (ANI)
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