North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed an unlimited expansion of his nation’s nuclear capabilities, citing the growing security partnership between the US and its allies in the region as a primary threat, Bloomberg reports, citing state media reports.
Addressing a conference of battalion commanders, Kim called for full war preparations, following the reported deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. He accused the US of prolonging the Ukrainian conflict by supplying weapons to Kyiv, and condemned the US-Japan-South Korea partnership as an “Asian version of NATO,” directly blaming the alliance for jeopardizing regional peace and stability.
Kim’s statement follows a recent summit between US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Lima, Peru.
Kim also alleged that the US is prolonging the war in Ukraine through arms supplies, raising concerns about a potential escalation to World War III.
The US and South Korea have also accused North Korea of supplying Russia with significant quantities of munitions, with estimates reaching as high as 8 million rounds of ammunition, as well as the alleged plans to send up to 100,000 troops to Russia’s aid in the war in Ukraine.
The issue in question is expected to be raised by several world leaders at the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil.
