North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to bolster his nuclear arsenal as he lashed out at military cooperation between the US, Japan and South Korea.
Speaking at a defence ministry event on Saturday, Kim condemned the deployment of US nuclear assets and joint military exercises in the region, claiming they created "military imbalance".
"The DPRK does not want unnecessary tension of the regional situation but will take sustained countermeasures to ensure the regional military balance," Kim told military officials during the Army founding day commemoration.
His comments followed Friday's meeting between US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, where both leaders expressed concerns about North Korea's nuclear programme.
Kim doubled down on his nuclear ambitions, making clear his "unshakable policy of more highly developing the nuclear forces," according to state media KCNA.
The North Korean leader also pledged continued support for Russia's war in Ukraine, stating: "The army and people of the DPRK will invariably support and encourage the just cause of the Russian army and people to defend their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity."
South Korean intelligence suggests North Korea has already sent approximately 11,000 troops to aid Russia's three-year campaign, with more reinforcements potentially being prepared.
In a separate statement, North Korean state media criticised South Korea's military exercises with the US, warning of "undesired consequences" for such aggressive actions.
"Anyone could easily guess how we would take the fact that they carried out war exercises that were more intense than ever before at a time when diplomacy schedules were being cancelled due to political turmoil," KCNA said.
