Kim Jong-un says North Korea will act as a nuclear state amid rising tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the country must exercise its position as a nuclear state, according to state media, in remarks delivered during a plenary session of the Workers' Party Central Committee in Pyongyang. The statement comes as Pyongyang continues to frame its nuclear programme as central to national security. Kim also blamed the United States and South Korea for worsening the security environment on the Korean peninsula.

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According to the report, Kim said an unpredictable and complex global security situation meant that acting as a nuclear state was the only way for North Korea to respond. He accused the United States of contributing to bloodshed in Europe and the Middle East, and said the security situation on the peninsula had become more dangerous because of what he described as the constant strengthening of the allies' combined nuclear arsenal. The report did not give details of any immediate changes to North Korea's nuclear posture.

Kim also ordered an increase in conventional arms and accelerated work on a 10,000-ton guided-missile cruiser project, the report said. That adds a conventional military dimension to the message, suggesting Pyongyang is seeking to reinforce both its nuclear deterrent and its broader armed forces. A South Korea-based expert quoted in the report said the comments reinforced North Korea's continued rejection of denuclearisation and its pursuit of recognition as a nuclear state.

The remarks matter because they underline how far North Korea remains from any negotiated rollback of its nuclear programme. They also come against a backdrop of long-running tensions with Washington and Seoul, both of which have treated North Korea's weapons development as a major regional security threat. Any renewed emphasis on nuclear status is likely to complicate diplomatic efforts that depend on some form of restraint or phased disarmament.

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The plenary session was reported to have run from Saturday to Monday, placing the comments within a broader party meeting rather than a one-off speech. The report also referred to the Nuclear Consultative Group between the United States and South Korea, which was created to address the North Korean nuclear threat. That reference suggests Pyongyang is closely tracking allied security coordination as it argues that outside pressure is making the situation more dangerous.

It remains unclear what practical steps, if any, will follow Kim's remarks, and the report did not specify any immediate nuclear-related action. It is also not clear how the planned cruiser project will affect North Korea's wider military programme or resources. The next point to watch is whether Pyongyang follows the statement with further weapons tests, military demonstrations or additional policy declarations.

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