# North Korean vice defense minister says US arms buildup justifies expanding nuclear force

https://mins.news/en/item/61915

- Reuters, 2026-09-17 01:40 UTC
- World
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/north-korea-vice-defence-minister-says-us-arms-buildup-justifies-expanding-2026-09-17/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6aab44fda4391a0001267aa8

> North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il said on Thursday that the United States’ arms buildup justified Pyongyang’s efforts to strengthen its nuclear forces. He said North Korea would continue expanding its defensive nuclear deterrent.

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- [US–North Korea Relations and North Korea Policy](https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations) — Markdown: https://mins.news/en/topic/us-north-korea-relations.md

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