Kim Jong Un vows 'offensive' nuclear expansion to counter US and South Korea

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called on his military to strengthen its military deterrence in a «more practical and offensive» strategy countering what Pyongyang sees as aggressive moves by the United States and South Korea.

The reclusive regime is angered by ongoing joint military exercises between the two allies, which it sees as a rehearsal for war.

South Korean and American The force has been conducting annual spring exercises since March, including air and sea exercises involving a US aircraft carrier and amphibious operations. The exercise was the largest in five years and follows an unprecedented series of North Korean missile tests.

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol is also due to travel to the White House this month for a state visit — only the second such visit during Joe Biden's presidency as the US tries to forge alliances in the Indo-Pacific to counter Pyongyang and an increasingly aggressive China.

Kim made his final comments on Monday at a meeting of the Central Military Commission, where he called on army commanders to increase their forces to «handle the escalation of the US imperialists and South Korean puppet traitors to start a war against aggression, " state media KCNA reports.

He ordered North Korea's military capabilities to be built up «at an increasing rate.»

In recent weeks, North Korea has stepped up its military threats by unveiling smaller nuclear warheads for the first time, which it claims can hit its neighbors. The weapons are being added to an arsenal that includes intercontinental ballistic missiles that, if fully developed, could strike anywhere in the US.

He also reported on repeated tests of a «secret» underwater combat drone capable of carry nuclear weapons. Haeil, which state media reported was capable of triggering a radioactive tsunami on enemy naval ships and ports.

Defense experts have expressed skepticism about «radioactive tsunami» claims, but do not downplay the growing military threat from belligerent side. Pyongyang.

South Korean news outlet Yonhap reported on Tuesday that Kim gave his final orders to military commanders, pointing to what appeared to be a map of South Korea.

It was speculated that he might have been showing areas around a key military base about 40 miles from Seoul, but the exact location could not be verified because the photos on the map were blurred.