North Korea has vowed to enhance its nuclear capabilities in response to a report indicating that the United States has revised its strategic nuclear plan.
The pledge was made on Saturday through a statement released by North Korea's official news agency.
The statement declared that North Korea would "strengthen its strategic power in every way to counter and eliminate all forms of security challenges that may arise from Washington's revised plan."
This move comes after a report in The New York Times earlier this week revealed that a U.S. plan, approved by President Joe Biden in March, involves preparing for potential coordinated nuclear confrontations with Russia, China, and North Korea.
The report also mentioned that the highly classified plan marks the first time U.S. deterrence strategy has been reoriented to focus specifically on China's rapid nuclear arsenal expansion.
In its statement, North Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed "grave concern" and condemned the US actions, labeling them as a severe threat.
North Korea reaffirmed its commitment to developing a "sufficient and reliable" nuclear force capable of firmly defending its sovereignty.
North Korea and Russia have maintained close ties since the founding of North Korea after World War II.
Their relationship has deepened further since Russia's military operation in Ukraine in 2022. Washington and Seoul have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with ammunition and missiles for its war in Ukraine, allegations that Pyongyang has dismissed as "absurd."
Despite these denials, North Korea has expressed gratitude to Russia for using its veto power at the United Nations in March to block a resolution extending the mandate of a panel of experts monitoring sanctions violations.
This comes as UN experts have begun investigating alleged arms transfers from North Korea to Russia.
China, another major ally of North Korea, has positioned itself as a neutral party in Russia's attack on Ukraine, asserting that it does not provide lethal aid to either side, unlike the US and other Western nations.
However, China remains a close political and economic ally of Russia, which views Beijing as an economic lifeline amidst the severe Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.
As tensions continue to rise, North Korea's latest pledge signals an ongoing escalation in the global nuclear landscape, raising concerns about the potential for conflict.
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