Wed Feb 19 06:28:46 UTC 2025: ## North Korea Vows to Expand Nuclear Arsenal Amidst US-Led Condemnation
**Seoul, South Korea – February 19, 2025** – North Korea has condemned the United States and its Asian allies for pursuing denuclearization, vowing to strengthen its nuclear capabilities under leader Kim Jong Un. This defiant statement follows a meeting between the US, South Korean, and Japanese foreign ministers in Munich, where they reaffirmed their commitment to complete denuclearization of the North and increased military cooperation to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry accused the US of pursuing an “outdated and absurd” plan and threatened “overwhelming and decisive counteraction” if its security is threatened. The statement emphasized the country’s commitment to expanding its nuclear arsenal as directed by Kim Jong Un.
The Munich meeting saw the three nations pledge to bolster their defense and deterrence efforts, including expanding trilateral military exercises and strengthening Japan and South Korea’s military capabilities. This follows a pattern of increasingly strong rhetoric from the US and its allies regarding North Korea’s nuclear program.
Concerns are growing in Seoul that Kim Jong Un’s deepening ties with Russia, including providing weapons and troops for the war in Ukraine, could result in the North receiving economic assistance and advanced technology in return, further bolstering its weapons development.
First Piper 