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North Korea pledges nuclear arsenal expansion amid U.S.-Seoul buildup

By Drooid · Sep 17, 2026, 10:53 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Kim Kang Il, North Korea's Vice Defense Minister, pledged on Sept 17 to expand the nuclear arsenal.
He said U.S.-led buildup and a nuclear alliance with Seoul and Tokyo justify the expansion.
He warned such actions could force Pyongyang to invoke its nuclear force policy law.
A defence ministry spokesman said U.S. and South Korea escalated confrontation with joint WMD response planning.

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Story summary

Kim Kang Il, North Korea's Vice Defense Minister, pledged on Sept 17 to expand the nuclear arsenal.
He said U.S.-led buildup and a nuclear alliance with Seoul and Tokyo justify the expansion.
He warned such actions could force Pyongyang to invoke its nuclear force policy law.
A defence ministry spokesman said U.S. and South Korea escalated confrontation with joint WMD response planning.