North Korea passed a law declaring itself as a nuclear weapons state

Meanwhile, tensions on the Korean peninsula have spiked this year with Pyongyang firing a record number of ballistic missiles. South Korea and the US have responded with a volley of missiles and the largest joint military exercises on the peninsula in years.

One month ago, Mr. Kim stated, “Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilize its absolute power dutifully, exactly, and swiftly in accordance with its mission,” He accused the United States of “demonizing” North Korea to justify its hostile policies. Mr. Kim said regular U. S.-South Korea military drills that he claimed target the North highlight U. S. “double standards” and “gangster-like” aspects because it brands North Korea’s routine military activities, an apparent reference to its missile tests, as provocations or threats.

South Korea expressed “deep regret” over Mr. Kim’s threat and said it maintains a readiness to cope with any provocation by North Korea in “a powerful, effective manner.” Last month experts said that North Korea will likely intensify its threats against the U. S. and South Korea as the allies prepare to expand summertime exercises. In recent years, the South Korean and U. S. militaries have canceled or downsized some of their regular exercises due to concerns about COVID-19 and to support now-stalled U. S.-led diplomacy aimed at convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear program in return for economic and political benefits.