US pushes North Korea to expand nuclear capabilities, Kim’s sister says

The United States and its allies are pushing North Korea towards further expansion of its nuclear capabilities through military exercises, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has said.

In her words, external security threats are forcing Pyongyang to continuously and appropriately strengthen its nuclear capabilities, Caliber.Az reports, citing Korean media.

She stressed that North Korea’s policy of strengthening its defence capabilities would not change.

She was referring, in particular, to the Freedom Edge joint naval exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan, which were held from September 7 to 11 in international waters east and south of Jeju Island.

The drills included exercises in missile defence and anti-submarine warfare, as well as other forms of cooperation.

Kim Yo Jong described the US-led exercises as one of the main factors behind the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Following the conclusion of Freedom Edge, North Korea launched several ballistic missiles towards its eastern coast.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov