North Korea threatens to increase nuclear forces in both quality and quantity

North Korea has condemned a G7 joint statement on Pyongyang's nuclear program, threatening to strengthen its nuclear forces in both "quality and quantity".

North Korea's Foreign Ministry on March 17 denounced the G7 for opposing North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which Pyongyang argued was merely "fairly exercising its sovereign right" in the nuclear field. North Korea also accused the G7 of focusing on "illegal nuclear proliferation" by citing reasons such as nuclear sharing or providing extended deterrence.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center) visits a nuclear material production facility at an undisclosed location on January 29, 2025.

North Korea stressed that its status as a nuclear state is enshrined in its constitution and will not change regardless of whether the outside world recognizes it. "We will strengthen our nuclear force, both in quantity and quality, to counter the external nuclear threat," the North's foreign ministry said.

The statements came after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in La Malbaie, Canada, on March 16. At the meeting, the G7 countries called on North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and condemned what they said was North Korea's military support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

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The G7 countries have not yet commented on the new statement from North Korea.

Also related to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Pyongyang warned on March 16 that it would wipe out all US reinforcements if an armed conflict broke out in the region. The warning was issued after Washington deployed an additional squadron of modern F-35B stealth fighters to the air base in Iwakuni (Japan).

North Korea accused the US military moves of increasing the risk of nuclear war.

US officials have not commented on the new information but have repeatedly denied North Korea's accusations.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trieu-tien-doa-tang-cuong-luc-luong-hat-nhan-ca-chat-lan-luong-185250317150837623.htm