North Korea Reaffirms Nuclear Buildup After U.S.-South Korea Drills

North Korea reaffirmed its policy of accelerating the strengthening of its nuclear deterrent in a statement dated November 2, local time. Kim Jong Sik, first vice department director of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee, criticized recent military exercises involving the United States and South Korea and argued that they justified further strengthening North Korea’s nuclear forces. Kim singled out Iron Mace, which he described as coordination between U.S. nuclear forces and South Korean conventional forces. He alleged that it rehearsed nuclear use against North Korea. His statement cited September 29 to October 2 as the exercise dates and said the drills had been held annually since 2024. He also criticized South Korea’s Hoguk exercise, the U.S.-South Korean Freedom Flag exercise and the U.S.-Japan Keen Sword exercise. Explaining his position, Kim said that “strength is peace and peace is guaranteed only by strength.” He described the nuclear deterrent’s mission as defending North Korea’s sovereignty and security and contributing to regional peace. The statement reaffirmed faster strengthening as an unchanged national defense policy. It did not announce a new nuclear test, weapons deployment, expenditure or negotiating timetable.