North Korea slams U.S., vows to expand its nuclear forces

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. File photo
| Photo Credit: AP

North Korea on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) criticised the United States and Asian neighbours for pursuing the “absurd” goal of denuclearising the North and said it will push to expand its nuclear forces under the direction of its authoritarian leader Kim Jong Un.

The statement by Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry came after the top diplomats of the U.S., South Korea and Japan met at a security conference in Germany and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation and reinforcing international sanctions regime to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

The North Korean Ministry accused the U.S. of trying to realise an “outdated and absurd plan” of denuclearising the North and warned of “overwhelming and decisive counteraction” against its rivals if it perceives its security is under threat. It said the North will “consistently adhere to the new line of bolstering the nuclear force” established by Mr. Kim and “thoroughly deter the U.S. and its vassal forces” from threats and blackmail against the North’s sovereignty.

It was the latest North Korean statement accusing the U.S. of maintaining hostile policies against Pyongyang.

U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio held a three-way meeting with the South Korean and Japanese Foreign Ministers in Munich, Germany, on Saturday and reaffirmed their commitment to the North’s “complete denuclearisation” and maintaining an effective sanctions regime targeting the country’s weapons program. The countries also agreed to bolster defence and deterrence, including by expanding three-way military exercises and strengthening Japan and South Korea’s military capabilities, according to a joint statement released after the meeting.

Mr. Kim’s foreign policy priority is now Russia, which he has supplied with weapons and troops to help prolong Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Seoul fears that Mr. Kim may receive economic assistance and advanced technology to develop his arsenal in exchange.