Pyongyang, March 25 — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un defended Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal on grounds that the conflict involving Iran demonstrates the need for a powerful military deterrent, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Speaking to the Supreme People’s Assembly, KCNA quoted Kim accusing the United States of carrying out “terrorism and invasions” in various regions as he referenced Washington’s confrontation with Iran, without naming US President Donald Trump. He said a nation’s “dignity, interest and the final victory” are secured only by the strongest force and warned that whether adversaries choose confrontation or coexistence “that’s their choice, and we are ready to respond to any choice.”
Kim pledged to further develop North Korea’s “defensive nuclear deterrence” and to maintain a “prompt and precise” nuclear response posture to counter what he called strategic threats to national and regional security. He said North Korea will continue to consolidate its status as a nuclear weapons state while “aggressively staging campaigns to crush any provocations by hostile forces,” according to KCNA.
He also escalated rhetoric toward South Korea, formally labeling it the “most hostile nation” and declaring Pyongyang would “thoroughly ignore and disregard it” in word and deed, warning of “merciless” consequences should Seoul provoke the North.
Separately, US President Donald Trump previously said negotiations were under way with Iran and suggested the war could end, claiming Iran’s military capabilities had been largely destroyed. Iranian officials denied talks and said peace would only come if the US and Israel ceased their campaign. Iran’s military said it launched a further wave of retaliatory strikes, and regional prospects for peace remained uncertain.
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