North Korea nuclear weapons buildup draws criticism from Kim Kang Il as he accuses the US and allies of increasing nuclear war potential.
© South Korea Defense Ministry via AP, archive
North Korea’s nuclear weapons buildup has been defended by Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il, who accused the United States and its allies of gradually increasing their potential for nuclear war. Speaking at the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on security on September 17, Kim said the ongoing military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula was being driven by what he described as hostile policies toward the DPRK.
According to Kim, the North Korea nuclear weapons buildup is a response to what Pyongyang considers growing security threats from the United States and its allies. His remarks were delivered during the international security forum in Beijing, where representatives from around 100 countries, regions and international organizations are participating.
North Korea Nuclear Weapons Buildup Linked to US and Allied Actions
Kim Kang Il said the continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula were rooted in what he called political and military provocations by Washington and its allies.
“The main reason why the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains stuck in the vicious circle of confrontation and escalation lies in the reckless political and military provocations on the part of the United States and its henchmen, who have pursued a hostile policy toward the DPRK for 80 years, gradually building up potential for a nuclear war,” he said.
The North Korean official argued that the actions of the United States and its allies were contributing to wider Korean Peninsula nuclear tensions. He said their continued efforts to strengthen nuclear capabilities provided Pyongyang with what it considers sufficient grounds to further develop its own nuclear deterrent.
The statement represents North Korea’s stated justification for its nuclear weapons buildup, which Pyongyang describes as necessary for national security.
Kim Kang Il Defends North Korea Nuclear Policy
Kim also said that the country’s nuclear strategy was developed after examining both existing and potential security threats.
“Our nuclear strategy has been adopted on the basis of a precise analysis of national security threats, both existing and potential,” the North Korean official said.
His comments come as US North Korea tensions remain a major security issue in the Asia-Pacific region. North Korea has repeatedly presented its nuclear capabilities as a defensive measure against perceived threats from the United States and its allies.
Kim’s remarks therefore placed the North Korea nuclear threat and the country’s nuclear policy at the center of his address at the Beijing security forum.
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Beijing Xiangshan Forum Focuses on Global Security
The 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held in Beijing from September 15 to 17, 2026. The forum’s official theme is “Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together.”
The annual event has been held regularly since 2006 and focuses on security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as well as broader international security issues. The forum is organized by the China Association for Military Science and has developed into a major international platform for defense and security dialogue.
This year’s event has brought together around 2,000 delegates representing nearly 100 countries, regions and international organizations. The official forum information says the event includes plenary and parallel sessions addressing international order, strategic stability, regional security challenges and emerging security risks.
The forum is based on principles including equality, transparency, tolerance and the exchange of experience. Its discussions cover security cooperation at both the regional and global levels.
North Korea Nuclear Weapons Buildup Remains a Security Issue
Kim Kang Il’s remarks underline Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on nuclear deterrence as part of its national security strategy. His comments also connect the North Korea nuclear weapons buildup with what North Korea describes as an expanding military and nuclear threat from the United States and its allies.
Recent reporting from the forum confirms that Kim used his appearance to defend North Korea’s nuclear policy and criticize the security cooperation involving the United States, South Korea and Japan.
The 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum provides a setting for these issues to be discussed alongside broader questions concerning international security and strategic stability.
For The Times of Russia, Kim Kang Il’s statement highlights the continuing dispute over nuclear security on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea’s stated reasons for maintaining its nuclear capabilities.
As the Beijing security forum brings together representatives from around the world, the North Korea nuclear weapons buildup remains closely connected to wider debates over military deterrence, regional stability and nuclear security.
For The Times of Russia, the statement is another indication of how North Korea continues to frame its nuclear strategy as a response to what it considers threats from the United States and its allies.
