00:00North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to permanently strengthen the country's nuclear forces,
00:06calling an expanded deterrent essential to his long-term military strategy.
00:10According to state media KCNA, Kim has also formally designated South Korea as its most hostile state.
00:20Kim rejected the possibility of trading nuclear disarmament for economic incentives or security guarantees,
00:26arguing that the North's current path has already proven effective in protecting its sovereignty.
00:32The North Korean leader also pointed to recent global developments as evidence
00:36that the rights of sovereign states are often violated by force,
00:41a comment analysts interpret as a direct reference to recent US military actions in Iran,
00:46adding that the timing of these remarks reinforces Pyongyang's long-standing position
00:51that nuclear weapons are the only reliable deterrent against external intervention
00:56and a guarantee of regime survival.
Comments