North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubled down on his arms buildup in face of what he described as an aggravating security environment as he concluded a major political conference that came as US and South Korean officials say North Korea is pressing ahead with preparations for another nuclear test that could be imminent.
Kim's comments published by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday didn't include any direct criticism of United States or rival South Korea amid a prolonged deadlock in nuclear diplomacy during three days of discussions that wrapped up Friday.
Kim defended his accelerating weapons development as a rightful exercise of sovereign rights to self-defense and set forth further "militant tasks" to be pursued by his armed forces and military scientists, according to agency. But report didn't mention any specific goals or plans regarding testing activity, including detonation of a nuclear device. The plenary meeting of ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee also reviewed key state affairs, including efforts to slow a COVID outbreak North first acknowledged last month and progress in economic goals Kim is desperate to keep alive amid strengthened virus restrictions.
"(Kim) said right to self-defense is an issue of defending sovereignty, clarifying once again party's invariable fighting principle of power for power and head-on contest," KCNA said.