N. Korea's vice defense minister justifies nuclear arsenal at Chinese defense forum

In September, North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il addressed a defense forum in China, defending his country's nuclear arsenal. Speaking at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Kim characterized the nuclear program as "self-defensive." He criticized joint U.S. military exercises with allies, arguing the drills near the Korean Peninsula justified North Korea's nuclear program.

Kim vowed to "ceaselessly expand and strengthen our self-defensive nuclear war deterrent," declaring the country's nuclear status as "at the point of no return." He also urged "enemy states" to abandon their "unrealistic denuclearization delusion." During the forum, Kim met with his Chinese counterpart to discuss enhancing strategic communication and military cooperation.

The forum, initiated in 2006 by the China Association for Military Science, is akin to Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue. This year's edition, themed "Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together," marked North Korea's return to the forum after a two-year absence. The decision to send Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il reflected improved bilateral relations following a June summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping.