North Korea is ready to mobilise its nuclear forces, leader Kim Jong-un has claimed.
Speaking at a Korean War anniversary event, Kim said boosting North Korea’s defence is an “urgent historical task” adding that the country was “fully ready for any military confrontation” with the US, state news agency KCNA reported.
The comments come amid concern that North Korea could be preparing a seventh nuclear test, which the US warned last month could happen at any time.
North Korea’s most recent nuclear test was in 2017. But tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula.
North Korea has tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year – 31 compared to 25 during the whole of its last record-breaking year, 2019, according to the US special representative to North Korea Sung Kim.
In June South Korea responded by launching eight missiles of its own.
Although the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, North Korea claims it as a victory against the US. The annual “Victory Day” celebrations are marked by military parades, fireworks and dancing.
In his speech to mark the event on Wednesday, July 27, Kim said nuclear threats from the US required North Korea to achieve the “urgent historical task” of beefing up its self-defence.
