North Korea's Kim Jong Un vows to expand nuclear capacity at 'fastest possible speed'


North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promised to expand his country's nuclear stockpile "at the fastest possible speed," and threatened to use it "if any forces, regardless of who they are, try to infringe upon our fundamental interests," The Associated Press reports Tuesday per state media.
Kim's comments, which arrived during a Monday night military parade intended to mark the 90th anniversary of North Korea's army, suggest "he will continue provocative weapons tests in a pressure campaign to wrest concessions from the U.S. and other rivals," AP writes.
"We will continue to implement measures aimed at strengthening and developing our country's nuclear forces at the maximum speed," the leader told troops and spectators.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
During the parade, North Korea showcased its newest and largest intercontinental ballistic missile — the Hwasong-17 — which it claimed to have test-fired last month.
Kim's nuclear expansion push appears to be at least partially after recognition from the U.S., which has yet to accept North Korea as a serious nuclear power, per AP. The speech at the parade, meanwhile, might serve to warn newly-elected South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol of Kim's expected hard-line stance toward the South, The New York Times reports.
"The fundamental mission of our nuclear forces is to deter war," Kim added Monday, "but if an undesirable situation emerges on our land, our nuclear forces cannot be limited to a single mission of preventing war."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents
-
Judge blocks Trump’s Guard deployment in Chicago
Speed Read The president is temporarily blocked from federalizing the Illinois National Guard or deploying any Guard units in the state
-
Trump urges jail for Illinois, Chicago leaders
Speed Read The Texas National Guard begin operations in the Chicago area
-
Bondi stonewalls on Epstein, Comey in Senate face-off
Speed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi denied charges of using the Justice Department in service of Trump’s personal vendettas
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats