President of the State Council of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un. File photoSEUL, Apr 26 North Korea's leader said at a parade marking the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on April 25 that the DPRK will continue to strengthen its nuclear forces at maximum speed, the North Korean Central News Agency reported ( KCNA). «We will take measures to further develop and strengthen the nuclear forces that the DPRK possesses at maximum speed,» said Kim Jong-un. The North Korean leader added that although the main function of nuclear weapons is «war prevention», their the mission cannot be limited to this, and the DPRK will carefully prepare to be able to use their special deterrent force at any time. «If any force encroaches on our core interests, it will be impossible not to use the second unexpected function of our nuclear forces,» said Kim Jong-un. The parade was held in North Korea on Monday at about 22.00 (16.00 Moscow time) on the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. South Korean media reported that Pyongyang had mobilized about 20,000 soldiers and equipment. More than 250 pieces of equipment were allegedly observed during parade rehearsals, including the Hwaseong-8 hypersonic missile, the Hwaseong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) recently tested by Pyongyang, and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
North Korea threatened South Korea with nuclear war
