North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on his country’s military for an “unlimited” expansion of its nuclear program to counter US-led threats, a report said on Monday.

The comments come amid a rise in tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul, as well as between Washington, after it redefined its southern neighbor as a “hostile” state and began sending soldiers to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

What did Kim Jong-un tell the North Korean forces?

Kim delivered a speech to battalion commanders and political instructors on Friday, state media KCNA reported, adding that he urged the military to focus efforts on completing war preparations.

“He fervently called on all participants to make every effort to achieve substantial and fundamental improvements in enhancing their capabilities for fighting a real war,” KCNA said.

Kim criticized the United States for its updated nuclear strategies with South Korea and increased military cooperation with Japan, which he called an “Asian NATO” that is escalating regional tensions.

In September, Kim had promised the country would expand its nuclear arsenal “exponentially” in response to “the reckless expansion” of a US-led regional military bloc.

He has often blamed the US for North Korea’s growing weapons arsenal.

North Korean troops in Russia

He also condemned US support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, claiming that Washington and its allies were using Ukraine as “shock troops” to expand US military influence.

The speech came weeks after Pyongyang sent an estimated 10,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia. Some of them have reportedly been involved in fighting in Kursk, near the border with Ukraine, and have drawn international criticism.

The increase in military cooperation between North Korea and Russia – another US rival – was strengthened in a pact signed earlier in November.

mk/lo (AP, Reuters, DPA)