On August 19, KCNA news agency reported that Mr. Kim Jong-un said that North Korea needs to quickly increase its nuclear arsenal, while criticizing the US-Korea joint exercise as "a clear demonstration of the intention to provincece conflict".
The annual Ulchi freedom Shield 11-day drill between the US and South Korea kicked off this week. Seoul said the scale of the exercise is not much different from 2024, but there is an adjustment when 20 out of 40 training activities are moved to September. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his desire to ease tensions, but analysts are skeptical about Pyongyang's ability to respond kindly.
While Washington and Seoul maintain that the drills are defensive, Pyongyang often considers them an aggressive exercise and repeatedly responds with weapons testing. Mr. Kim Jong-un said that these activities have a "nuclear element", reinforcing the argument about the need to expand North Korea's arsenal.
Mr. Hong Min - an expert at the National Unity Institute of Korea - commented that North Korea is showing a determined stance of rejecting denutionalization and determined to upgrade its nuclear arsenal in an irreversible manner. According to the Federation of American Scientists, North Korea may have produced enough nuclear material for up to 90 warheads, but the actual assembly quantity is about 50.
In addition to nuclear development, North Korea plans to build a new 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class fleet area in October next year, and conduct trials of cruise missiles and anti-aircraft missiles for the Navy.
The North Korean issue is likely to be discussed at the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington, as security tensions on the peninsula continue to escalate.
