North Korea has vowed to further its nuclear buildup, promising to increase its nuclear arsenal.  Pyongyang’s ruler Kim Jong-un has outlined the strategy during a weeklong congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. He declared North Korea’s nuclear-armed status “irreversible and permanent.”

Kim said he will continue to add to this nuclear arsenal “as long as nuclear weapons exist on the earth.” He added that as long as the country is threatened by “US imperialists and their followers,” he will seek the weapons, according to state media reported on Thursday, as reported by RT. 

“We have a long-term plan to strengthen the national nuclear force on an annual basis in the future and will concentrate on increasing the number of nuclear weapons and expanding the means and space for nuclear operation,” Kim said.

Kim also said that North Korea would “deliver terrible retaliatory attacks to any forces” infringing on North Korea.

Pyongyang portrays its nuclear program, which has made it a target of tough UN sanctions, as a deterrent against US-backed South Korea. For decades since the Korean War, both Koreas viewed each other as illegitimate regimes occupying part of a unified country. Pyongyang shifted its policy in 2024, calling the South an independent hostile state. Language in Seoul’s recently-published strategy documents suggests it is moving to accept the North’s nuclear status. –RT

Kim’s 13-year old daughter is allegedly being groomed to be the regime’s next ruler. South Korean intelligence has referred to her as “Kim Ju-ae” in international media. She is allegedly acting as de facto “missile general director,” while General Jang Chang-ha retains his formal position as missile administration commander, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported this week, citing senior government sources.

However, it looks like the ruling class is slowly introducing her early because her gender could hinder her authority despite North Korea’s departure from traditional Confucian patriarchal norms.