Kim Jong Un Urges Rapid Expansion of Nuclear Arsenal as US-South Korea Drills Escalate Tensions
SEOUL, Aug 19 — In a stark reminder of the region’s growing instability, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an urgent expansion of his country’s nuclear weapons program. His comments came just as the United States and South Korea launched a new round of joint military drills, which Pyongyang denounced as a clear provocation and preparation for war.
Speaking during an official visit to a North Korean navy destroyer, Kim declared that the ongoing military exercises were “an obvious expression of [Washington and Seoul’s] will to provoke war.” According to North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA, Kim believes these drills signal an intensifying hostility towards the North, further justifying what he describes as a necessary ramp-up of his country’s nuclear defenses.
These joint exercises, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, are held annually and span 11 days. Although this year’s version will mirror the scale of previous drills, South Korea’s military has delayed half of its field training sessions to September. This adjustment, officials say, reflects President Lee Jae Myung’s intent to cool tensions with Pyongyang. However, experts remain doubtful that North Korea will respond in kind.
Kim Jong Un remains unmoved. He pointed to the inclusion of nuclear elements in the joint exercises as evidence that North Korea needs to accelerate its nuclear buildup. He warned that the current security environment demands a swift and strategic military response.
His remarks follow recent reports indicating North Korea may already possess enough fissile material to build up to 90 nuclear warheads—though it is believed to have assembled about 50 so far, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
In another show of military ambition, Pyongyang also announced plans to construct a third 5,000-tonne Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October next year, equipped with advanced cruise and anti-air missiles.
While Seoul and Washington maintain that their drills are strictly defensive, Pyongyang’s rhetoric tells a different story—one marked by fear, defiance, and an unwavering pursuit of nuclear power.
As tensions mount and diplomatic channels remain frozen, the stakes in Northeast Asia continue to climb. The world watches anxiously, knowing that any misstep could lead to irreversible consequences.