The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced today that the country has decided to strengthen its nuclear force both quantitatively and qualitatively.
The decision was taken at an expanded meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Central Military Commission on Thursday.
Among the military measures approved at the meeting were "strengthening the nuclear force quantitatively and qualitatively and advancing the plan for the integration, allocation, and modernization of military bases."
Also among the decisions were updating the technical infrastructure of combat systems and "accelerating the construction of modern naval bases."
KCNA relayed that leader Kim Jong-un, in his speech at the meeting, emphasized that the country's security and integrity could only be ensured with a "strong army" and by countering all threats.
New weapon tests
Earlier this month, Kim personally oversaw the weapon tests of the 5,000-ton naval destroyer "Kang Kon" and promised to arm the North Korean navy with nuclear weapons.
Nuclear state claim
North Korea has maintained that it is a nuclear state since the Hanoi summit between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump ended in failure in 2019 due to disagreements over the scope of nuclear disarmament and sanctions relief.
The isolated country is subject to a series of sanctions because it has committed to continuing to develop its nuclear program, which it sees as a key deterrent against the U.S. and South Korea.
The 1950-1953 conflict between North and South Korea ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, so the two countries technically remain at war.