North Korea Vows To Keep Nuclear Power Ready To Combat US: Report

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un vowed to set the nuclear force ready to combat America and its allies, said state media. Reportedly, Pyongyang disclosed a new platform likely designed to fire more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the mainland U.S.

This is not the first time Kim Jo Ung made such pledges. However, the latest threat comes as outside experts believe that Kim will perform provocative weapon tests in days leading to US Presidential election in November.

Recently, Pyongyang also continued to launch trash-carrying balloons towards South Korea. Speaking at the 76th founding anniversary of his government, Kim said Pyongyang faces “a grave threat” because of “the reckless expansion” of a US-led regional military bloc which is now developing into a nuclear-based one, as per official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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He also added that such development is pushing his country to boost its military capability. He said North Korea will “redouble its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state including the nuclear force fully ready for combat”, as quoted by KCNA.

North Korea has protested the signing of new US-South Korea defence guideline, which is meant to integrate US nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons. Both claim the move as a strategy to cope with growing North Korean nuclear threats. According to North Korea, the guideline revealed its adversaries’ plots to invade Pyongyang. At the same time, Washington, and Seoul have repeatedly said they don’t intend to attack the country.

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North Korea has significantly accelerated its weapon testing activities in its bid to perfect the country’s capabilities in launching strikes on the US and South Korea. The both countries have responded by expanding military drills, which Pyongyang refer to as invasion rehearsals.

According to South Korea officials and experts, North Korea could conduct nuclear tests or ICBM test-launches before the U.S. election to increase its leverage in future diplomacy. US observers said Pyongyang likely thinks that a greater nuclear capability would help it win the US concessions like sanctions relief.