North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un warned that the US’s military buildup in South Korea is aimed at establishing the ability to launch a primitive war. Kim threatened that Pyongyang would develop countermeasures to maintain a balance of power. 

During an address to the Defence Development-2025 expo, Kim said, “The US-ROK nuclear alliance is making rapid progress, and they are conducting various kinds of exercises to execute dangerous scenarios according to the so-called nuclear operations guidelines and to get adept at them.”

“Recently, the United States is taking measures for expanding the stockpile of its military assets in and around the ROK, posing a real and serious threat to the security of our country and others in the region.” He continued, “No one can deny or conceal the fact that the United States’ arms buildup schemes are mainly geared to making it easier to launch preemptive strikes against the other side in times of emergency.”

Recently, the US has created a second super squadron of fighter jets on the Korean Peninsula and reestablished a military intelligence unit near the DMZ. Additionally, the US recently concluded trilateral war games with Japan and South Korea that included preparing to conduct nuclear strikes. 

Kim vowed that North Korea would take steps to maintain the balance of power in the region. He did not provide details, but suggested North Korea would target South Korea with its nuclear weapons. 

“If the United States persists in the dangerous moves of reinforcing its military strength in blatant disregard of the security concerns of the states in the region.” He added, “The developments will spur us more powerfully to implement the relevant military and technological measures aimed at removing the new threats and maintaining the balance of power.”

While there has been an American buildup on the Korean Peninsula, and Pyongyang has responded with fiery rhetoric, Kim and President Donald Trump have both expressed a willingness to meet.