Missiles, Nuclear Weapons, and Mystery: North Korea’s Growing Military Might

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a rapid expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal, denouncing joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises as an “obvious expression of their will to provoke war,” state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

The exercises, which began this week, include testing an upgraded response to heightened North Korean nuclear threats. Pyongyang frequently criticizes such drills as rehearsals for invasion and occasionally conducts weapons tests in response. Seoul and Washington, however, insist the maneuvers are purely defensive.

North Korea Eyes Rapid Nuclear Expansion

This year’s 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will be on a scale similar to 2024, but South Korea’s military has rescheduled half of the field training events to September. President Lee Jae Myung has stated that the adjustments aim to ease tensions with North Korea, though analysts remain skeptical about how Pyongyang might react.

During a visit to a navy destroyer on Monday, Kim described the exercises as a “clear expression of … their intention to remain most hostile and confrontational” toward North Korea, according to KCNA’s English translation. He said the current security environment necessitated a “rapid expansion” of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, highlighting that recent drills included a “nuclear element.”

A 2024 report by the Federation of American Scientists estimated that North Korea may have produced enough fissile material for up to 90 nuclear warheads but has likely assembled around 50.

Strengthening Military Capabilities

In addition to its nuclear ambitions, North Korea is advancing its naval capabilities. The country plans to build a third 5,000-tonne Choe Hyon-class destroyer by October next year and is actively testing cruise and anti-air missiles designed for these warships, media reports said.

Experts suggest he has leveraged Russia’s war on Ukraine as a cover to fast-track the development of his nuclear-armed forces, now equipped with multiple nuclear-capable systems aimed at South Korea.

Also Read: Baltimore Ship Explosion: Terrifying Video Reveals What Really Happened