...
By Shane Croucher and Robert Birsel
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country must quickly expand its nuclear arsenal as he warned that annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises included a "nuclear element" which he said could spark war, North Korean state media reported.
Why It Matters
The Korean Peninsula has remained in a technical state of war since 1953, divided by the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea and South Korea, when fighting ended.
Read More on World
North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006. It condemns military exercises between U.S. forces and their South Korea allies as preparations for an invasion.
In his latest comments, Kim accused the U.S. and South Korea of intensifying their exercises and demonstrating "their will to ignite a war."
The United States has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.
What To Know
Kim said the "security environment" around North Korea is "getting more serious day by day" and "requires us to make a radical and swift change in the existing military theory and practice and rapid expansion of nuclearization," the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported, paraphrasing his remarks.
The U.S.-South Korean military exercises "have always been provocative and dangerous in their nature but the gravity is increasing from the characteristics that they are recently plotting military nexus with the nuclear element involved," Kim said, said the Rodong newspaper.
"The U.S.-ROK intensified military nexus and the muscle-flexing are the most obvious manifestation of their will to ignite a war and the source of destroying the peace and security environment in the region," he said, referring to South Korea by the initials of its official name, the Republic of Korea.
Kim was inspecting the warship Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton-class destroyer first unveiled in April, during a visit to the western port of Nampo on Monday, August 18.
...
The South Korean and U.S. militaries kicked off their annual large-scale summertime exercise to bolster readiness against growing North Korean threats.
The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield, which the allies describe as defensive, will mobilize 21,000 troops, including 18,000 South Koreans, for computer-simulated command post operations and field training.
President Donald Trump held three meetings with Kim during the U.S. president's first term though no breakthrough was achieved. Trump raised the prospect, during his election campaign last year, of reviving his effort to press North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs.
North Korea's neighbor and ally China also calls for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. It does not want to see North Korea wielding nuclear weapons but nor does it want to see U.S. nuclear weapons in the region.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, asked about Kim's intent to build up his nuclear arsenal, said "China's fundamental position on the situation on the Korea peninsula issue has not changed."
What People Are Saying
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular briefing in Beijing: "We hope that the relevant parties can see squarely the deep-rooted cause and crux of the peninsula issue and make joint efforts to uphold peace and stability in the peninsula and promote the political settlement of the issue."
What Happens Next
The U.S.-South Korean military exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield, is due to run until August 28.
Update 8/19/2025 4:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines