Politics · Singapore Bureau
North Korea defends nuclear expansion as response to US-led military buildup
Pyongyang's defence ministry has justified its nuclear weapons programme as a necessary response to increased military cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan. The statement underscores escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula amid expanding security partnerships in the region.
LSN Singapore ·
North Korea's vice defence minister on Thursday defended the country's push to strengthen and expand its nuclear arsenal, citing what he characterised as a growing military threat from the United States and its regional allies.
The official stated that an expanding nuclear alliance involving Washington, Seoul and Tokyo warranted Pyongyang's efforts to bolster its own deterrent capabilities. The remarks reflect longstanding North Korean concerns about the US military presence in the region and joint defence arrangements with South Korea and Japan.
The statement comes as military cooperation among Washington and its Asia-Pacific allies has intensified in recent years, driven by concerns over North Korea's weapons programmes and China's military modernisation. The US maintains significant military deployments in South Korea and maintains regular joint exercises with Seoul.
North Korea has historically used external security threats to justify its nuclear weapons development, a programme the international community has sought to curtail through negotiations and sanctions. The latest comments suggest Pyongyang shows no signs of changing course on its strategic priorities.