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

North Korea's Vice Defense Minister, Kim Kang-il, defended his nation's nuclear arsenal during a Chinese defense forum, describing it as a "self-defensive" measure, according to Pyongyang's state media. Kim delivered his comments on Thursday during the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which convened in China from Tuesday to Thursday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on the matter.

Kim criticized the United States for conducting joint military exercises with its allies, asserting that these drills, based on the assumption of nuclear weapon use, were held publicly near the Korean Peninsula. He contended that such exercises justified North Korea's own nuclear program, stating that the North would "ceaselessly expand and strengthen our self-defensive nuclear war deterrent." Kim emphasized that the country's nuclear status had reached a "point of no return."

Furthermore, Kim called on "enemy states" to abandon what he deemed an "unrealistic denuclearization delusion." At the forum's sidelines, Kim met with his Chinese counterpart to discuss enhancing strategic communication and expanding military cooperation and development, as reported by KCNA.