By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the "exponential" expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal, declaring that bolstering nuclear capabilities is the "only way" to address the unpredictable and complex global security situation, state media reported on Tuesday.

The directive came during the Second Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, held from June 20 to 22 in Pyongyang, according to KCNA. The gathering included an interim review of Party policies for 2026 and discussions on the orientation of struggle for the second half of the year.

In his concluding speech, Kim reaffirmed Pyongyang's steadfast policy stance to accelerate national defence capabilities, citing what he described as aggressive moves by the United States and South Korea that are pushing the situation on the Korean Peninsula to "the brink of a nuclear war" .

Kim specifically pointed to the activities of the US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), a body established under the Washington Declaration to coordinate nuclear deterrence against North Korean threats . According to KCNA, the NCG has held six rounds of meetings, drawing up "detailed nuclear war scenarios including war mode, sequence of missions, drills and operation elements" .

The North Korean leader further accused Washington and Seoul of pushing forward with the Republic of Korea's acquisition of a nuclear submarine while staging frequent military drills and espionage acts against the DPRK.

In response to what he called "unpredictable international military and political situation getting complicated in multiple ways," Kim emphasized that steadily expanding and strengthening nuclear forces is "the most correct and unique way" to actively cope with external threats . He stressed that, with "nuclear technology as a basis, more extensive, innovative and encouraging plans would be carried out with increasing speed" .

Kim's remarks also placed North Korea's nuclear posture within a broader global context. He warned of "unimaginable, astonishing incidents" occurring worldwide due to the "gangster-like and unlimited geopolitical greed" of hegemonic forces. He specifically cited "rampant ultra-nationalism of modern version" including "America First" ideology, Zionism, Ukrainian Neo-Nazism, and what he termed Japanese militarism.

Kim also pointed to Japan's transformation into a "war state" by seizing on "present disturbing circumstances to get rid of all shackles restricting its moves to become a military power" . Recent US-Japan military exercises, including the large-scale "Resolute Dragon" drill in the southwestern Kyushu region and Okinawa, have raised regional concerns about destabilizing security and further heightening tensions between Japan and its neighbors .

The North Korean leader concluded by asserting that the current international reality, reminiscent of the "disastrous scene a century ago when the whole world was involved in wars and bloodshed," proves the justness of Pyongyang's political choices .