North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would permanently strengthen its nuclear capabilities, which he described as an irreversible process, Reuters reported on its website, citing the North Korean news agency KCNA.
Kim considers South Korea his greatest enemy, KCNA added.
Kim stressed in a speech to parliament that Pyongyang's status as a nuclear power was "irreversible," adding that strengthening "defensive nuclear deterrence" was necessary for national security, regional stability and economic development.
He ruled out the possibility of negotiating denuclearization in exchange for economic benefits or security guarantees, stating that North Korea has already shown that maintaining its nuclear capabilities while pursuing development is an appropriate strategic choice.
"The reality of today's world, where the dignity and rights of sovereign states are ruthlessly violated by unilateral decisions of powers and violence, clearly teaches us what is the true guarantee of a country's existence and peace," Xi said.
South Korean analysts interpreted Kim's statement as an implicit criticism of the US military intervention in Iran.
Kim on Monday again accused the United States and its allies of destabilizing the region by deploying strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula.
However, he added that Pyongyang is no longer considered threatened and has the ability to act if necessary.
South Korea is "recognized as the most hostile state," Kim said, warning Seoul that any attempt to violate North Korea's sovereignty would be met with a "merciless, immediate and unrestrained" response.
The statement illustrates Kim Jong Un's hardline stance toward South Korea, further reversing decades of policies aimed at calming relations between the two neighbors, Reuters reported.
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