North Korean leader calls for stronger nuclear deterrent amid global tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrent in response to recent international developments.

He observed exercises on January 4 by the Korean People’s Army strike group, focused on launching hypersonic missiles, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Kim described the exercises as a test of the readiness, effectiveness, and mobility of North Korea’s deterrent forces, noting that “the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events” make such strengthening necessary.

The leader called it a “critical strategic task” to assess and enhance the main components of the nuclear deterrent and to practice their use. He emphasised that North Korea must constantly modernise its military capabilities, “especially offensive weapon systems,” as part of effective self-defence.

Kim said that enemies must be continuously shown the readiness and lethality of strategic offensive capabilities, describing this as a key means of preventing war.

The hypersonic missiles, launched from Ryokpho district in Pyongyang toward the northeast, struck designated targets 1,000 km away in the Sea of Japan, referred to in North Korea as the East Sea.

By Jeyhun Aghazada