Kim Jong Un reaffirms nuclear expansion, slams South Korea's submarine push

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un addressed the Workers' Party Central Committee plenary session held from 20 to 22 May, reiterating that continuously expanding and strengthening the nuclear arsenal is the only viable path for the country. He praised the nuclear‑weapon‑holding status and ordered the acceleration of major defence projects, including a 10,000‑ton strategic missile destroyer.

Kim also denounced the United States and South Korea for advancing a South Korean nuclear‑submarine program and for conducting joint military exercises. He labeled South Korea the most hostile nation and criticized the U.S.–ROK nuclear consultative group as a war‑planning mechanism, warning that such actions further destabilise the Korean Peninsula.