North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vows to accelerate nuclear weapons build‑up

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un told the Central Committee plenary meeting in Binh Nhuong that the country will speed up the expansion of its military strength and nuclear arsenal to counter what he described as the United States and South Korea's ongoing military modernisation. He accused the United States of worsening conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and said the joint US‑South Korean alliance threatens stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim said North Korea will continue to develop its strategic missile‑capable submarine fleet and fast‑track construction of a 10,000‑ton strategic missile‑bearing ship. The party congress reiterated the nuclear force as the core of the nation’s defence and pledged relentless effort to “surpass the world” in nuclear capability. No response from the United States or South Korea was reported.