{
  "id": 8161005,
  "title": "N. Korea's vice defense minister justifies nuclear arsenal at Chinese defense forum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/n-koreas-vice-defense-minister-justifies-nuclear-arsenal-at-chinese",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T02:56:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260918005200315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il has ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "N.Korea leader's sister blasts US drills, threatens 'more offensive' response",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/n-korea-leaders-sister-blasts-us-drills-threatens-more-offensive",
        "published": "2026-09-17T22:28:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "N. Korea leader’s sister blasts US‑led drills, threatens ‘more offensive’ nuclear‑deterrence steps",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/n-korea-leaders-sister-blasts-us-led-drills-threatens-more-offensive",
        "published": "2026-09-18T01:58:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "N. Korea's vice defense minister justifies nuclear arsenal at Chinese defense forum",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/n-koreas-vice-defense-minister-justifies-nuclear-arsenal-at-chinese-8161683",
        "published": "2026-09-18T03:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}