Kim Jong Un Cites Iran War to Justify North Korea's Nuclear Arsenal

In remarks reported by KCNA, Kim on Tuesday, in a speech to North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, accused the United States of carrying out "terrorism and invasions" across different regions, referring to Washington's ongoing conflict with Iran, though he did not directly mention US President Donald Trump.

"Dignity, interest and the final victory of a country can only be guaranteed by the most powerful might," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. " Whether the enemies choose confrontation or peaceful coexistence, that's their choice, and we are ready to respond to any choice."

He vowed to further advance North Korea's "defensive nuclear deterrence" and maintain a "prompt and precise" response posture for its nuclear forces to address "strategic threats" to national and regional security, as reported by KCNA.

North Korea "will continue to solidify its status as a nuclear weapons state ... while aggressively staging campaigns to crush any provocations by hostile forces," Kim said, as quoted by KCNA.

In the same address, Kim also escalated rhetoric toward South Korea, formally declaring it the "most hostile nation."

North Korea "officially" recognised South Korea as the most hostile nation and will thoroughly ignore and disregard it through the clearest remarks and actions," Kim was quoted by KCNA as saying, warning of "merciless" consequences if Seoul carries out any actions that provoke Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, US President Trump had earlier confirmed that negotiations were on with Iran, claiming that the war was going to end.

"We're in negotiations right now. I can tell you, they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there? Look, their navy's gone, their air force is gone, their communications are gone. pretty much everything they have is gone. I think we are going to end it. I cannot tell you for sure. We have won this... We literally have planes flying over Tehran and other parts of their country. They can't do a thing about it. For instance, if I want to take down that power plant, they can't do a thing about it... They are totally defeated... Militarily, they are dead," he said.

There has been no formal response from the Iranian side to the latest overture from Trump. The Iranians on Tuesday had denied reports of any negotiations with the US, claiming that peace would only be achieved once the US-Israel stopped its campaign. With the Iranian military taking a belligerent stand even as it launched wave 80 of its retaliatory strikes, peace remains elusive in West Asia.

- ANI