North Korea’s Kim calls for sharpening of ‘nuclear shield and sword’

Kim Jong Un references ‘new important atomic strategy’ successful high-level gathering with scientists and subject officials.

North Korean person Kim Jong Un has directed apical officials to fortify the nation’s “nuclear shield and sword”, saying lone a “nuclear counteraction” could safeguard his country’s security.

In a gathering with atomic scientists and technicians connected Friday, including Hong Sung-mu, a elder authoritative believed to person spearheaded North Korea’s atomic programme, Kim said the accumulation of atomic materials and weapons was an “essential apical priority”, according to authorities media.

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“The almighty deterrent, namely, the logic of peacekeeping and information by unit with atomic forces arsenic its backbone is the invariable basal of the DPRK,” Kim was quoted arsenic saying by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is North Korea’s authoritative name.

Kim besides made notation to “main tasks” that had been carried retired by the country’s atomic weapons probe institute with respect to “a caller important atomic strategy”, South Korea’s authoritative Yonhap quality bureau reported.

The North Korean person did not supply details regarding that caller strategy.

“Comrade Kim Jong Un said we indispensable perpetually sharpen and renew the atomic shield and sword that tin reliably warrant nationalist sovereignty, information and interests and the close to development,” KCNA added.

This picture, taken connected September 26, 2025 and released by North Korea’s authoritative Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), shows person Kim Jong Un attending a consultation gathering connected atomic materials and atomic weapons accumulation with scientists and engineers [KCNA via/AFP]

Kim’s gathering with his atomic scientists and subject officials follows conscionable days aft South Korea said Pyongyang was presumed to person arsenic overmuch arsenic 2,000kg (2 tonnes) of highly-enriched uranium.

South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said connected Thursday that conscionable 10-12kg (22-26lbs) of enriched uranium was capable to physique a atomic bomb.

“Even astatine this precise hour, uranium centrifuges astatine 4 locations (in North Korea) are running, astir apt accumulating atomic materials,” Chung said, according to Yonhap.

The curate besides said it was present intolerable to person North Korea to springiness up its atomic weapons programme done the forces of sanctions, but the resumption of talks betwixt Pyongyang and Washington could connection a “breakthrough” to denuclearisation efforts.

“It volition beryllium desirable for [talks] to instrumentality spot arsenic soon arsenic possible,” the curate said.

Kim said precocious determination was nary crushed to debar dialog with the US if Washington ceased insisting that his state give up atomic weapons.

“Personally, I inactive person fond memories of US President Trump,” Kim said, according to KCNA, referring to gathering Trump 3 times during the United States president’s archetypal administration.

“If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising america and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, determination is nary crushed for america not to beryllium down with the United States,” Kim was quoted arsenic saying.

“The satellite already knows afloat good what the United States does aft it makes a state springiness up its atomic weapons and disarms,” Kim said.

“We volition ne'er springiness up our atomic weapons,” helium added.