US, South Korea threaten peace with military buildup, says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Pyongyang was only increasing its military in self-defence and not to start a war, Kim said.

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country`s weapons development is necessary in the face of hostile policies from the United States and a military buildup in South Korea that is destabilising the peninsula, state media said on Tuesday.

Pyongyang was only increasing its military in self-defence and not to start a war, Kim said in a speech at the Defence Development Exhibition, according to a report by state news agency KCNA.

Kim made the remarks standing in front of a variety of weapons, including a Hwasong-16 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), photos in the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed. The Hwasong-16 is North Korea`s largest ICBM and was unveiled at a military parade in October 2020, but not yet test fired.